ICE detains 5-year-old in Minnesota school district

A five-year-old boy from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, was detained alongside his father during a federal immigration operation on Tuesday 20 January. School leaders say agents asked the child to knock on his own front door during the arrest; the Department of Homeland Security says the operation targeted his father, not the child. The pair were later transported to a detention centre in Texas, the family’s lawyer said. (washingtonpost.com)

Columbia Heights Public Schools identified the boy as Liam Conejo Ramos, and DHS named his father as Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias. The district and the family’s lawyer say the family has an active asylum case with no deportation order. Photos released by the school show a small boy in a blue, bunny-eared hat while an officer holds his backpack. (washingtonpost.com)

“Why detain a five-year-old?” asked superintendent Zena Stenvik, who says four students from her district have been detained in recent weeks: a 10-year-old, two 17-year-olds, and Liam. Attendance has fallen as families keep children at home, with one day seeing about a third of pupils absent, according to local reporting. (cbsnews.com)

In its public statement, DHS said ICE officers were carrying out a targeted operation to arrest the father and that he fled, leaving his son behind. Officials say an officer stayed with the child for safety and that parents can choose to be removed with their children or nominate a trusted carer. School leaders say another adult at the home asked to take the boy inside but was refused; why that option was rejected remains unclear. (nbcnewyork.com)

This incident sits within a wider enforcement push in Minnesota known as Operation Metro Surge. A senior Border Patrol official has said more than 10,000 people were arrested in the state over the past year, including 3,000 described as “dangerous offenders” in the last six weeks. Advocates and local reporters say the government has not released enough data to verify those claims; one TV analysis of roughly 2,000 arrests found about five percent involved violent convictions. (abcnews.go.com)

Tensions have been high since 7 January, when Renée Good, a 37-year-old mother, was shot dead by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis. An independent autopsy reported three gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the head; officials say the officer acted in self-defence, while video cited by journalists appears to show the vehicle turning away. (theguardian.com)

Amid protests and political scrutiny, Vice-President JD Vance is due in Minneapolis today, Thursday 22 January, to meet agents and deliver remarks on “restoring law and order”. Speaking earlier in Ohio, he urged critics to stop resisting immigration enforcement. (wsls.com)

If you work in a school or care for pupils, here is the practical context. U.S. school districts still serve all children regardless of immigration status, and leaders are being asked to plan calmly for arrivals and dismissals. The National School Boards Association says the federal government rescinded “sensitive locations” guidance in January 2025, so campuses are not automatically shielded from enforcement in the way many families once assumed. (community.nsba.org)

Know‑your‑rights guidance in the U.S. continues to emphasise simple steps at home: you can ask officers to show a judicial warrant signed by a judge; you can speak through the door; you do not have to answer questions about immigration status; you can ask for a lawyer and avoid signing documents on the spot. Newsrooms have also reported a leaked ICE memo instructing agents that administrative warrants may allow entry, a position lawyers strongly dispute; if agents force entry, prioritise safety, state that you do not consent, and document what happens. (aclunorcal.org)

In classrooms, steady routines help. Quiet check‑ins, clear pick‑up plans and honest, age‑appropriate conversations can reduce anxiety. Build media literacy by comparing official statements with school accounts and by checking dates on photos and posts before sharing. The aim is not to inflame fear but to give students the tools to read events with care.

Key details remain unanswered. Why was a familiar adult not allowed to care for Liam? What policy permits sending a five‑year‑old to knock on a door during an arrest? School officials say both questions are unresolved, and DHS has not clarified beyond its initial statement. (washingtonpost.com)