U.S. judge denies asylum to five-year-old boy arrested by ICE agents in Minneapolis

Do you remember little Liam, the five-year-old Ecuadorian boy arrested by ICE agents? Two months after the release of that photo showing him being detained by federal agents, his legal proceedings have taken a new turn: an immigration judge has denied the asylum request filed for him and his family.

It all started on January 20, 2026 in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis. Upon leaving preschool, Liam — wearing a blue hat with white ears and a Spider-Man backpack — was stopped and taken away by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with their faces covered. That image quickly went viral, sparking vehement protests and questions about the proportionality of the measures taken by federal authorities.

After the detention, the little boy and his father, Adrián Conejo Arias, were taken to the Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. However, their stay at the facility was cut short on February 1, 2026, when federal judge Fred Biery ordered their immediate release with a ruling described as “harsh” regarding the government's handling of the case, allowing father and son to return to Minnesota.

Around the family unit — which also includes the pregnant mother and a thirteen-year-old brother — a fierce dispute has developed over the accounts. According to the defense, the relatives entered the United States in 2024 to seek protection, adhering to asylum procedures and regularly attending scheduled appointments. The federal authorities, on the other hand, present an opposing narrative: they accuse the father of being in the country without legal status, claim he entered in December 2024, and allege that he “abandoned” the minor in a car during a chase.

These allegations are firmly rejected by Adrián Conejo Arias, who denies ever leaving his son alone. The latest chapter, for now, is the rejection of the international protection request for Liam and his family. But the legal battle remains open. The lawyers have immediately filed an appeal, which produces a suspensive effect and allows the family to remain in the United States while awaiting the final decision.