Democratic lawmakers in Texas are calling for the immediate release of a 5-year-old boy currently held in an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas. The child, Liam Conejo Ramos, was detained alongside his father in Minnesota last week. On Wednesday evening, hundreds of supporters gathered in San Antonio to advocate for his release.
During the rally, Representatives Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, and Jasmine Crockett expressed their concern for Liam’s situation. Casar was heard chanting, “Free Liam Ramos, free our children,” as he highlighted the pressing issue of child detention within the immigration system. Liam and his father are being held in a detention center located southwest of San Antonio.
Representative Castro visited the Dilley facility and shared a poignant image online showing him speaking with Liam’s father, who was holding the boy. He voiced his worries over Liam’s wellbeing, disclosing that the child had been mostly asleep during their visit. Castro noted that Liam’s father reported the boy’s declining mood and appetite, as he misses his mother and peers.
Beyond Liam’s case, Castro emphasized the broader neglect faced by many detainees at the Dilley center, citing instances of inadequate medical care and the emotional toll on children held there. “We met people who had not received their medication on time and children who had lost weight due to insufficient food,” he stated, highlighting the trauma experienced by detainees.
Castro made it clear to ICE officials that the demand for Liam’s release extends beyond himself, asserting that it represents a national call for justice. “It’s not only me demanding his release; it’s America demanding the release of Liam Ramos,” he declared.
As the rally continued, Representative Casar pointed to Liam’s plight as indicative of escalating tensions in the country resulting from Department of Homeland Security actions. He referenced recent violence involving immigration officers, urging the crowd to remain vigilant and vocal in their pursuit of reform. “Our job is to rally through that fear, to fight day in and day out,” he encouraged.
In related legal developments, a federal judge has temporarily halted any deportation or transfer of Liam and his father until further proceedings occur. However, they are required to remain within the Western District of Texas during this time. The family’s attorney asserts that they are lawfully seeking asylum in the U.S. and disputes the circumstances surrounding their detention.
