Five-Year-Old Boy and Father Detained by ICE Described as 'Depressed' by Congressman

A Texas Democratic congressman, Joaquin Castro, visited a five-year-old boy and his father who were recently detained by immigration authorities and transferred to a facility in Texas, reporting that the child had been "depressed" since their separation.

CONTENT:

A heart-wrenching situation unfolded last week when Adrian Conejo Arias, a father from Minnesota, and his five-year-old son, Liam Conejo Ramos, were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and subsequently transferred to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. The pair was taken into custody following an ICE raid focused on undocumented individuals with criminal records in their community.

The news of the father-son duo's detention was brought to national attention when Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro visited them at the detention facility. In a social media post on January 29, 2026, Castro shared details about his meeting with Conejo Arias and Liam, expressing concern over the young boy's wellbeing.

According to Castro's post, Liam had been "depressed" since being separated from his father. The congressman's account painted a vivid picture of the emotional toll that the detention had taken on the child. He also reported that Conejo Arias was cooperating with ICE and was hopeful for a swift resolution to their case.

The news of the boy's emotional state came as no surprise to immigration advocates who have long warned about the devastating impact of family separations on children. In recent years, the practice of separating families at the border has gained considerable attention and controversy due to its impact on thousands of children and their families.

Previous reports have shown that children who experience prolonged separation from their parents can suffer from anxiety, depression, and other emotional and psychological issues. The American Academy of Pediatrics has denounced family separation as a traumatic event that can significantly harm children's development and wellbeing.

The situation of Conejo Arias and Liam is not unique, as thousands of families have been separated at the border and in various immigration detention facilities throughout the United States. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), over 5,000 children were still in government custody as of January 2026, despite the Biden administration's efforts to reunite families and wind down the use of family detention centers.

Critics argue that the continued use of family detention centers and the separation of families at the border is a violation of human rights and goes against the best interests of the children involved. Advocacy groups have called for a more compassionate and humane approach to immigration enforcement, including the implementation of alternatives to detention and the reunification of families as quickly as possible.

As the situation of Conejo Arias and Liam unfolds, the public's attention remains focused on the emotional toll of immigration enforcement on families and the need for a more humane and compassionate approach to immigration policy.

Sources:

• Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) on Twitter: "Visited Adrian Conejo Arias and his son Liam at the immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. Adrian was detained last week in Minnesota and transferred here with his 5-year-old son. Liam has been depressed since their separation. We need to end family detention now." (January 29, 2026)
• American Civil Liberties Union. "Immigrant Children's Detention."
• American Academy of Pediatrics. "Immigrant Children and Families: Trauma Informed Care."