Outrage Grows After ICE Detains Children in Minneapolis
Community outrage has intensified after ICE detained multiple minors in Minneapolis, including a five-year-old boy taken from his home. Educators, advocates, and families warn the actions are inflicting lasting harm on children and destabilizing schools and neighborhoods.
Outrage over the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis has intensified after multiple minors, including a five-year-old boy, were detained by ICE agents over the past two weeks.
As President Trump’s administration and the Department of Homeland Security attempt to justify the recent detainments, community members in Minnesota and across the country are condemning the actions and warning of the lasting harm being inflicted on children in Minneapolis.
On Jan. 20, preschooler Liam Conejo Ramos was detained by ICE agents in the driveway of his Minneapolis home, allegedly used as “bait” to draw his family outside, according to Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the Columbia Heights Public Schools. The five-year-old and his father were taken into custody and quickly transferred to an ICE detention facility in Texas.
“Another adult living in the home was outside and begged the agents to allow them to care for the small child, but that request was refused,” Stenvik said the following day during a press conference.
Ramos’ detention sparked nationwide outrage, and he is not the only minor taken into custody in recent weeks. Stenvik said at least four additional students in her district have been detained by ICE, some reportedly taken directly from their schools.
“The onslaught of ICE activity in our community is inducing trauma and taking a toll on our families, our staff, and our community members,” Stenvik told reporters Thursday. “The young boy Liam and his father, who were taken yesterday, have documentation. I saw it with my own eyes when I visited the home.”
The response from families and educators across the Twin Cities metro area reflects a broader reckoning with the impact of ICE operations on children and schools.
“I am angry, I am scared, and I am devastated by what we are doing to our babies,” said Amanda Otero, co-executive director of Take Action Minnesota, at a press conference earlier this month. “Places where children should not only be safe, but cared for and nurtured to learn and grow, are being made unsafe.”
“We are witnessing state violence escalate,” Otero added. “It is not abstract. It is not theoretical. It is not something anyone can pretend to ignore. It is deadly, and it is everywhere on our streets.”
Concerns that ICE is deliberately targeting children have intensified following reports this week from Sullivan Elementary School, which warned families about flyers distributed by ICE offering “food support and delivery to families.” School officials cautioned parents not to engage.
“For your safety, do not respond to these offers,” the email read. “If your family is in need of support, please contact the school, and we will connect you with one of our school social workers.”
Despite mounting criticism, federal officials have defended their actions. ICE Commander Greg Bovino said during a press conference in Minneapolis on Friday that Ramos’ father entered the United States illegally more than 20 years ago, a claim that contradicts statements from the family’s attorneys and Stenvik, and emphasized that the father and child were detained together.
“That family has not been separated,” Bovino said. “Many American citizens are separated when they are arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Take a look at what’s happening here with this particular case,” he added. “They are not being separated. That child is in the least restrictive setting possible. Border Patrol and ICE are experts in immigration cases involving children, probably the most experienced anywhere in the United States.”
While Bovino is correct that detaining children alongside their parents has been a longstanding ICE practice, advocates argue that the scale and frequency of family detentions are escalating. As of the start of this year, an estimated 6,000 family units are currently being held in ICE detention. In 2025 alone, more than 1,300 children were reportedly held for longer than 20 days, exceeding established benchmarks.
As ICE continues operations at schools, grocery stores, and homes across Minneapolis, community members have mobilized to support families who are afraid to leave their houses. Mutual aid efforts have expanded to provide food, transportation, hygiene supplies, and other essential resources.
“Here in Minnesota, we are people who take care of one another,” said Jennifer Arnold, a South Minneapolis mother of a second grader. “I’ve been working with other families at my son’s school to make sure kids can get to school safely and have the food they need.
“I do this work because I believe in my community,” Arnold said. “I want a world where all of our children are safe and can receive the care they deserve.”
Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder