Trump government gunning for deportation of 5yo – an ‘uncommon retaliatory’ response after a judge ordered his release from ICE detention

The federal government is aggressively trying to shut down the asylum claims for Liam Conejo Ramos and his family, filing an uncommon motion designed to expedite their deportation. That’s the absolute newest development in a case that’s already seen a lot of emotional turmoil, and it’s putting immense pressure on the five-year-old and his father.

One of the reasons ICE came under fire last month was because of their encounter with 5-year-old Ramos. Instead of turning him over to the family after the encounter, he was sent to a detention center. It took a Federal judge ordering their release to ensure that Ramos and his father made it home last week. However, their relief was short-lived when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a motion asking to fast-track the entire deportation proceeding. 

According to MPR News, the family’s immigration attorney, Danielle Molliver with Nwokocha & Operana Law Offices, is calling this governmental move highly unusual and deeply concerning. She believes the government’s attempt to rush the deportation process is “retaliatory” toward the family because of the attention their case has received. 

It isn’t surprising that this administration is very petty

Molliver is fighting hard against this expedited timeline. While a hearing is already scheduled for Friday, she’s already put in a request asking the court for more time to properly respond to the government’s push. She told reporters that the motion is frustrating her immensely because it seems completely unnecessary.

“It’s really frustrating as an attorney, because they keep throwing new obstacles in our way,” Molliver explained. “There’s absolutely no reason that this should be expedited. It’s not very common.” I have to agree with her. It feels like the government is trying to make a point rather than follow a careful due process.

The stakes are incredibly high for the family, and that fear is palpable. Liam’s father, Adrian Conejo Arias, spoke about the constant anxiety they’re living with. He said they genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen next because the government appears to be moving so aggressively.  “The government is moving many pieces, it’s doing everything possible to do us harm, so that they’ll probably deport us,” Conejo Arias stated. “We live with that fear too.” 

While the situation looks grim, there is one technicality that might change their destination. Molliver mentioned that the federal government may not actually send the family back to Ecuador, which is their home country. Instead, the family could potentially apply for asylum in a third country. It’s certainly not a perfect solution for them, but it does mean they might avoid returning to the specific place they initially fled.