US Family Detention Faces Renewed Opposition Amid Trump Immigration Crackdown
A growing movement is calling for an end to family detention in the United States, following high-profile cases like that of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained with his father during Minnesota’s ICE operations. The child, photographed wearing a Spider-Man backpack and blue bunny hat, became a symbol of the human toll of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Protests erupted at the Dilley immigration processing center in South Texas, where hundreds of children are held. Over 30 local organizations joined efforts to show solidarity with detained families, advocating for humane treatment and calling for Congress to outlaw family detention entirely.
Since Trump took office, the number of children in ICE custody has increased sixfold, with at least 3,800 minors detained so far. Critics cite inhumane conditions, including outbreaks of measles, lack of clean water, and inadequate medical care, claiming violations of a 1997 legal settlement protecting children in immigration detention.
Activists also aim to stop the expansion of detention infrastructure, highlighting ICE plans to spend $38 billion on warehouses for future detention centers. State-level efforts, such as bills in New Mexico and restrictions in Illinois, reflect growing resistance.
Even after Liam’s release, families continue to face psychological trauma. His father reported the child struggles with sleep and recurring nightmares, underscoring concerns about intergenerational effects of detention. Advocates argue that ending family detention is a moral imperative and part of a broader push for abolition of the prison-industrial complex in the U.S.
