Texas state police officers utilized tear gas on Wednesday to disperse around 100 demonstrators protesting outside the US immigration detention facility in Dilley, according to reports. The gathering specifically demanded the release of Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old boy from Minneapolis detained following federal immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration.
The core of the demonstration focused on the detention of the young boy and over 1,100 others held at the privately-run facility. Democratic Congressmembers Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett conducted an inspection visit earlier, with Castro stating the child was reportedly depressed and sleeping excessively. The child and his Ecuadorian father, both asylum seekers, were apprehended on January 20 after the child allegedly served as 'bait' during the arrest operation, according to the boy's school superintendent.
Local elected official Christina Morales addressed the crowd, calling for the impeachment of Governor Kristi Noem and urging the US Senate to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). State law enforcement responded to the demonstration in riot gear, deploying tear gas canisters, one of which reportedly temporarily incapacitated an AFP journalist.
Congressional representatives asserted that the family was legally present in the United States, contradicting the administration's framing of the enforcement action. Congressman Castro emphasized that there were no criminal convictions among the detainees at Dilley, contrary to the administration’s stated goal of arresting undocumented 'criminal aliens'.
A federal judge issued a temporary block on the family's deportation proceedings on Tuesday, providing a brief legal reprieve amid the escalating public outcry. The national attention was galvanized by images of the distressed preschooler, wearing a bunny hat and backpack, being held by officers during the initial apprehension.
Geopolitically, the incident highlights persistent international friction regarding US border and interior enforcement policies concerning asylum seekers. The confrontation in Dilley underscores the volatile intersection of domestic immigration enforcement and humanitarian concerns, drawing sharp criticism from political figures.
The immediate focus remains on the status of the Conejo Ramos family and the broader accountability of the federal agencies involved in family separations. Further judicial rulings and political pressure will likely shape the near-term operational parameters of the detention center.
