ICE Agents Accused of Using Five-Year-Old Boy as 'Bait' in Immigration Raids
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have detained a five-year-old boy in the District of Columbia, with his family describing the incident as an attempt to use him as 'bait' to lure out his relatives. This case has ignited fresh outrage over President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies.
Details of the Controversial Detention
Liam Conejo Ramos, aged five, was reportedly stopped by masked agents in his driveway on Tuesday as he arrived home from school with his father. According to Columbia Heights Superintendent Zena Stenvik, the agent removed the child from the still-running car and directed him to knock on the door, asking to be let in to see if anyone else was home. Stenvik stated this was essentially using a five-year-old as bait.
Another adult at the home allegedly begged agents to let him care for the child but was refused. Both Liam and his father were later placed into a vehicle and transported to Texas, as reported by the Mirror US. The family has an active asylum case with no deportation orders, according to officials.
Broader Impact on the Community
This incident is not isolated. The Columbia Heights Public School district has confirmed that four of its students have been detained by federal agents in four separate immigration raids over the past two weeks. These include:
- A 10-year-old fourth-grade student detained with her mother while traveling to school.
- Another student taken by ICE on the way to school on Tuesday.
- A 17-year-old student detained last week when agents pushed their way into a flat.
Superintendent Stenvik expressed deep concern, noting that ICE agents have been roaming our neighbourhoods, circling our schools, following our buses, coming into our parking lots and taking our children. She added that nearly a third of students in the district have stayed home recently due to fear of raids, significantly disrupting daily life and education.
Legal and Emotional Fallout
Marc Prokosch, a lawyer representing Ramos' family, said he does not yet know the exact location of Liam and his father, but based on similar cases, believes they are being held in Texas in a family detention setting. Teachers from Liam's school visited the family's home to offer support, including to a middle school student who returned to find his father and brother taken.
The situation has sparked protests across the US against ICE raids, with growing opposition following the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good by an agent earlier this month. Stenvik questioned the tactics, asking, Why detain a five-year-old? You can't tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.
She highlighted the trauma inflicted on children, stating, Imagine the trauma of a child being picked up by masked and armed agents, seeing their parents in handcuffs and being used to attempt to lure their mother out of the house and into danger. What has become of our country?
