• Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian released from ICE custody after a judge's order.
• U.S. District Judge condemned the government's treatment of immigrant families.
• Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro assisted in their return to Minnesota.
• Public outcry over the traumatic arrest of young Liam during a raid.
• Department of Homeland Security disputes claims about targeting Liam during the operation.

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, have returned home to Minnesota after being released from an ICE detention facility in Texas. This followed a court order that highlighted the concerning practices surrounding their detention, with U.S. District Judge Fred Biery condemning the actions of immigration authorities. He described the case as stemming from "the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas," emphasizing the trauma inflicted on children, according to ABC News, CBS News, and BBC.

Adrian and Liam were apprehended on January 20 as they arrived home from preschool in a Minneapolis suburb and taken to the Dilley detention facility. They spent approximately ten days in custody before their release on February 1, facilitated by Representative Joaquin Castro, who escorted them back to Minnesota. Castro shared on social media that he was greeted by Liam wearing a bunny hat and carrying a backpack, stating, "Liam is now home," as reported by Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

While various lawmakers, including Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ilhan Omar, welcomed Liam's return, they criticized the actions taken against him and his father by immigration officials. Images of Liam, particularly those depicting the young boy during his detention, sparked significant public outrage and scrutiny of ICE's aggressive tactics. Neighbors allege that Liam was used as "bait" to apprehend his father, a claim refuted by the DHS, which stated that his father fled the scene and left Liam in a vehicle, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

The situation has ignited discussions regarding the treatment of immigrant families in the U.S., particularly in light of an administration's focus on deportation quotas. Judge Biery's ruling pointed towards constitutional concerns, underlining the necessity to protect individuals, especially children, from unreasonable searches. The ongoing debate highlights a broader call for immigration reform, specifically in the aftermath of large-scale ICE enforcement actions, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.