An immigration judge has denied the asylum claim of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, ordering the family to be deported to Ecuador, according to their lawyer.
The boy, known for a widely shared photo of him in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack during a Minneapolis immigration raid, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were first detained on January 20 and held for 10 days in Texas before a judge temporarily released them.
The family’s lawyers are appealing the decision, though the process could take years. Danielle Molliver, representing the family, said they are “gravely disappointed” but remain committed to fighting the ruling. She noted that Liam has returned to his suburban Minneapolis school, but both he and his father remain shaken by their detention experience.
The case drew national attention after thousands of immigration officers carried out raids in the Minneapolis area, sparking protests and controversy. Neighbors and school officials accused federal officers of using Liam to lure his mother outside, which the Department of Homeland Security denied. The government claims Liam’s father entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024, while the family maintains he entered legally and that his asylum claim allows him to remain.
