A 5-year-old boy, Liam Ramos, was reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in his Columbia Heights driveway on Tuesday, while returning home from preschool. This incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about the agency's actions and the safety of immigrant families. The boy was wearing a blue tuque with droopy ears and carrying a Spider-Man backpack when he was apprehended. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied targeting the child, but did not confirm his current whereabouts. The family's lawyer, Marc Prokosch, stated that Liam and his father are being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Centre in Texas. This comes amidst a backdrop of increased immigration crackdowns in Minneapolis, where protests and aggression have surged since an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good, a mother of three. The school district officials reported that three other children have also been detained by ICE in recent weeks, including a 17-year-old high school student, a 10-year-old, and another 17-year-old. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the detainment of Liam, stating that 'this campaign of retribution has got to stop'. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of immigrant children and the potential impact of ICE's actions on families. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to requests for information about Liam's whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his detention.
