SAN ANTONIO — Lawmakers visiting a federal detention facility in Texas urged the immediate release of a 5-year-old boy from Minnesota, citing concerns over his mental and physical well-being.
Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Jasmine Crockett toured the Dilley, Texas, center on Wednesday and met with Liam Ramos and his father, who have been detained there since last week. Castro said Liam has shown signs of depression, including lethargy, poor appetite, excessive sleep, and frequent questions about his mother and classmates.
“His father said that Liam has been very depressed since he’s been at Dilley, that he hasn’t been eating well,” Castro said. He added that the boy has been asking to return to school and be reunited with his family.
The family entered the U.S. in 2024 through a port of entry and has been following the legal process for seeking asylum, their attorney, Marc Prokosch, said. Prokosch added that the father is not an “illegal alien” and does not pose a safety risk.
The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that Liam’s mother refused to take custody of the child. Columbia Heights school board chair Mary Granlund disputed this, saying she witnessed the detainment and the mother was not present outside the facility.
A federal judge issued an order on Monday temporarily blocking any transfer or removal of Liam and his father until further notice.
During their visit, Castro and Crockett also observed other children at the detention center, including a two-month-old infant. Crockett described multiple cases of children experiencing distress, depression, and illness.
“When people talk about an orderly, efficient immigration system, (Liam and his father) followed the rules,” Castro said, urging President Trump to visit the facility.
