A federal immigration judge has denied asylum and ordered the deportation of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his family, according to legal counsel. The boy, whose detention in January became a national flashpoint for the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement, now faces removal to Ecuador.
The ruling, handed down on Feb. 19, was made public Wednesday by the family’s attorney, Paschal Nwokocha. The decision marks a swift escalation in the legal proceedings for the family, who entered the United States in late 2024.
Expedited Proceedings and Legal Appeals
Attorneys for the family have filed a motion with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), a branch of the Department of Justice, seeking to remand the case to immigration court. The appeal aims to allow the family to present the merits of their asylum claim, which they argue was bypassed in a rush to secure a removal order.
“Our concern in this case is the speed at which the government has been moving,” Nwokocha told reporters.
While an appeal can typically span months or years, the administration has signaled a commitment to rapid enforcement. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Lauren Bis, confirmed the order, stating that the family “received full due process” and was issued a final order of removal last month.
A Disputed Entry and a National Outcry
The legal battle hinges on the circumstances of the family’s arrival. DHS officials maintain that Liam’s father entered the country illegally in December 2024. However, defense attorneys contend the family utilized the CBP One app—a Biden-era program designed to facilitate legal asylum appointments—at a port of entry in Brownsville, Texas.
President Donald Trump terminated the CBP One app via executive action on his first day back in office, January 20, 2026. That same day, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained Liam and his father in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, as they returned from the boy’s preschool.
The imagery of the 5-year-old in a blue bunny hat surrounded by federal agents sparked immediate backlash, leading to:
- Protests at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley.
- High-profile intervention from lawmakers, including Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
- A brief release in late January following a federal court order.
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Political and Community Fallout
The deportation order has reignited fierce criticism from congressional Democrats. Rep. Castro, who escorted the family back to Minnesota following their initial release, labeled the judge’s decision “cruel,” alleging the family was never granted a fair hearing. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) described the ruling as “indefensible” and called for an immediate reversal.
Locally, the Columbia Heights Public School District issued a statement calling the development “heartbreaking.” The district has seen several students and parents detained in recent weeks as part of a broader regional immigration sweep.
The Path Forward
If the BIA denies the appeal, the family faces immediate deportation to Ecuador. The case continues to serve as a litmus test for the administration’s “zero-tolerance” approach and its impact on minors.
“This is a family that obeyed all laws as they applied to them,” Nwokocha said. “The government seems to be in a rush to get them out, and we still don’t understand why.”
