CRIME & LAW

Minneapolis protests after five-year-old detained by ICE

PUBLISHED Jan 22, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 11

Left 18%

Center 82%

Sources: 11

Minneapolis — Federal agents detained a five-year-old boy and his father outside their Columbia Heights home on January 20 during an ICE operation, prompting local officials and activists to allege the child was used to draw others out while DHS says the father fled and abandoned the child. School leaders reported at least four students detained in the enforcement surge after a January 7 shooting that heightened tensions, and protests and business shutdowns followed this week as organizers called for ICE to leave. Family legal counsel and DHS provide conflicting accounts; investigations and records are pending. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Ayesha A. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

December 2024: Family reportedly presented at U.S. border seeking asylum.
7 January 2026: ICE operation in Minneapolis led to the fatal shooting of Renee Good, escalating tensions.
20 January 2026: ICE detained Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias and five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos outside their Columbia Heights home.
23–24 January 2026: School officials reported multiple student detentions; protests and business shutdowns occurred in Minneapolis area.
Late January 2026: DHS issued statements calling the child abandoned while activists and the family's lawyer disputed that account.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 2
Neutral:: 9
Distribution:: Left 18%, Center 82%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Local advocacy groups, legal defenders, and organizers benefited from increased public attention and mobilization that amplified calls for oversight of immigration enforcement.

Who Impacted

The detained family, immigrant communities, and schoolchildren suffered immediate trauma, separation risk, and heightened fear and disruption to daily life.