School Official Demands Body Cam Release After Five-Year-Old's ICE Detention
In an emotional press conference on Thursday, officials from Columbia Heights Public Schools in Minnesota called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release body camera footage from the detention of a five-year-old student and his father. The incident has sparked widespread concern about the impact of immigration enforcement on children and families.
Details of the Detention
According to school district officials, five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, were taken by ICE agents near Minneapolis earlier this week. This marks at least the fourth student from Columbia Heights schools to be detained by immigration authorities in recent weeks, creating what officials describe as a climate of fear and trauma within the educational community.
Marc Prokosch, an attorney representing Liam's family, told reporters that both the child and his father had entered the United States lawfully through the Customs and Border Protection One program. "They pose no safety risk, no flight risk, and never should have been detained," Prokosch emphasized during the press conference.
However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson contradicted this account, stating that Liam's father had entered the country illegally and that "ICE agents did NOT target or arrest a child." The spokesperson confirmed that both Liam and his father are currently being held at an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas.
Political Reactions and Controversy
The detention has ignited fierce political debate, with prominent figures from both parties weighing in on the controversial incident. Vice President JD Vance defended the agency's actions when questioned about Liam's case, labeling his father an "illegal alien" and questioning what alternatives ICE agents had.
"So the story is that ICE detained a five-year-old, well, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?" Vance stated during his remarks.
Mary Granlund, chair of the board of Columbia Heights Public Schools, directly contradicted Vance's characterization of events, describing a chaotic scene during the apprehension that she believes warrants public scrutiny through body camera footage.
Broader Political Context
The incident occurs against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown, which has become a central issue in national politics. The detention of young children has particularly galvanized opposition from Democratic lawmakers and former officials.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed outrage at Liam's detention, stating: "Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and held in a Texas detention center. I am outraged, and you should be too."
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her calls to defund ICE following the incident, arguing that "an agency that is attacking U.S. citizens, that are kidnapping five-year-olds, that are using them as bait to open doors" deserves to have its funding revoked.
Legislative Implications
The political fallout extended to Capitol Hill, where only seven Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to vote for funding the Department of Homeland Security. Many Democratic lawmakers cited concerns about ICE tactics as their reason for opposing the legislation, particularly following recent enforcement actions in Minnesota.
Senator Adam Schiff criticized what he called the "cruelty" of the Trump administration's immigration policies, specifically referencing reports that ICE agents have been authorized to forcibly enter homes without judicial warrants. "History will judge us if we do not stand up to the lawlessness and cruelty of this administration," Schiff warned.
Community Impact and Trauma
School officials in Columbia Heights emphasized the psychological toll that ICE activities are taking on students and families within their district. The repeated detentions of schoolchildren have created an atmosphere of anxiety that educators say interferes with learning and normal childhood development.
"ICE activity is inducing trauma within our school community," one official stated during the press conference, highlighting how enforcement actions are affecting children beyond those directly detained. The call for body camera footage release represents an effort to bring transparency to operations that officials believe are harming vulnerable young people.
The situation in Columbia Heights reflects broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement across the United States, particularly in communities with significant immigrant populations. As political debates continue, school officials remain focused on protecting their students and demanding accountability for actions that they say are disrupting education and childhood wellbeing.
