Protests Erupt Over ICE Crackdown and Child Detention

Thousands Protest ICE Crackdown in Minneapolis Amid Child Detention Controversy

Minneapolis has been gripped by protests and public outrage over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, which has included the detention of a five-year-old migrant boy and the fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal agents. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand an end to what they describe as inhumane treatment of migrants and refugees.

Child Used as 'Bait' in ICE Operation

The protests were reignited by the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a preschool student at Columbia Heights Public Schools. According to the school’s superintendent, Zena Stenvik, Liam and his Ecuadoran father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were taken from their driveway as they arrived home on Tuesday. Stenvik revealed that Liam was used as “bait” by immigration officers to draw out those inside the home after his father left him and ran from the officers. Liam’s teacher, Ella, described him as “a bright young student,” adding emotional weight to the controversy. The child’s detention has become a focal point for protesters, who have expressed deep concern over the treatment of minors in immigration enforcement actions.

ICE Defends Actions Amid Public Outrage

Border Patrol senior official Gregory Bovino defended the officers’ treatment of Liam, stating, “I will say unequivocally that we are experts in dealing with children.” ICE commander Marcos Charles echoed this sentiment, claiming, “My officers did everything they could to reunite him with his family,” and alleging that Liam’s family refused to open the door after his father had left. However, these statements have done little to quell public anger. Protesters argue that the use of a young child as a tool in an immigration raid is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. The incident has fueled broader criticism of ICE’s practices and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

US Citizen Killed During Operation

Adding to the tension, the crackdown has been marred by the fatal shooting of US citizen Renee Good on January 7. An autopsy classified the killing as a homicide, though it does not automatically imply a crime was committed. The officer involved, Jonathan Ross, has not faced charges. The combination of the child’s detention and the citizen’s death has created a powder keg of public sentiment in Minneapolis, a Democratic-led city that has been targeted by federal immigration operations. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis on Thursday and confirmed Liam’s detention, arguing that agents were protecting the child after his father “ran” from officers. He questioned, “What are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death?”

Protests and Business Closures

In response to the crackdown, dozens of eateries, attraction sites, and other businesses in the Minneapolis area have closed their doors as part of a coordinated day of action. Thousands of protesters, many wrapped in hats, gloves, and scarves to brave temperatures that reached -23C (-9F), chanted “ICE out” and held signs demanding an end to the harsh immigration policies. One protester, who declined to be named, told AFP, “Because if we don’t fight, we don’t win. If we don’t fight, fascism wins.” He held a sign reading “five-years-old, dude,” a direct reference to Liam Conejo Ramos.

Clashes at the Airport

Separately, protesters picketed outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, which has been used as a facility for deporting individuals swept up in immigration raids. Methodist pastor Mariah Furness Tollgaard reported that 100 members of clergy were arrested and charged with trespassing and disobeying a peace officer while demonstrating at the airport. “As a faith leader in Minnesota, my tradition teaches that every person bears the image of God and is worthy of dignity and safety, and in this moment, all people of faith and moral conscience must stand up,” Tollgaard said in a statement.

International Condemnation

The controversial crackdown has also drawn international attention. UN human rights chief Volker Turk called on US authorities to end the “harmful treatment of migrants and refugees.” Former US vice president Kamala Harris said she was “outraged” by Liam’s detention and referred to him as “just a baby.”

Broader Implications

Liam is one of at least four children detained in the same Minneapolis school district this month, according to school administrators. The case highlights the broader impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies on families and communities. As protests continue, the debate over immigration enforcement and the rights of migrants and refugees remains at the forefront of national discourse. The situation in Minneapolis underscores the deep divisions in American society over immigration and the use of federal power to enforce immigration laws. With public outrage mounting, the Trump administration faces increasing pressure to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement.

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