Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro has provided a concerning update on the wellbeing of a five-year-old boy detained with his father by US immigration authorities, following a personal visit to a Texas facility.
Congressional Visit to Dilley Detention Centre
Representative Joaquin Castro, who serves Texas's 20th congressional district, travelled to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley on Wednesday 28th January 2026. There he met with Adrian Conejo Arias and his young son Liam Conejo Ramos, who were transferred to the facility after being apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota the previous week.
In a social media post documenting the encounter, Castro shared an image showing the sleeping child cradled in his father's arms during their meeting. "I demanded his release and told him how much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him," the congressman wrote alongside the photograph.
Child's Distressing Mental State Revealed
During approximately thirty minutes with the detained pair, Castro learned troubling details about Liam's condition from his father. The boy has reportedly been sleeping excessively and showing signs of depression since their detention, with his father telling the congressman that Liam "hasn't been himself" and appears "sad".
"I am concerned about his mental state," Castro stated in an Instagram video following the visit, noting that Liam remained asleep throughout their meeting. The congressman added that he subsequently contacted Liam's mother to provide her with an update on her son's welfare.
Contested Accounts of Minnesota Arrest
The detention originated on 20th January when ICE agents apprehended Liam and his father in the driveway of their Minnesota home shortly after the boy returned from preschool. A widely circulated photograph captured the moment, showing Liam wearing a distinctive blue bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack during the encounter.
The Department of Homeland Security has characterised the operation as a "targeted" arrest of Liam's father, whom they claim entered the country illegally. DHS officials asserted that the father "fled on foot – abandoning his child" during the apprehension, necessitating that an ICE officer remain with the boy for his safety.
Disputed Official Narrative
Multiple witnesses and representatives have challenged the DHS account of events. School officials present during the arrest have contradicted the agency's version, stating that an adult resident of the home offered to care for Liam but immigration agents detained the child regardless.
The family's legal representative has further disputed DHS claims, presenting documentation indicating that Liam and his father entered the United States through an official port of entry and have an active asylum case pending. "They did not come here illegally. They are not criminals," the attorney emphasised last week, noting there is no existing deportation order against them.
Legal Developments and Wider Context
On Monday, a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking the deportation of Liam and his father while litigation challenging their detention continues. The case has drawn attention to immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration, particularly regarding family detentions.
Castro's visit also included checking on the approximately 1,100 other individuals detained at the Dilley facility, highlighting broader concerns about immigration detention conditions. The congressman's intervention underscores ongoing political debates surrounding immigration policy, child welfare in detention settings, and the transparency of enforcement operations.
