Massive protests in Minneapolis as ICE detentions spark public outrage
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis on Friday despite freezing temperatures, demonstrating against the actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and federal immigration policies. The mobilization followed the detention of a five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, which has intensified public anger.
Demonstrators marched through the city center, holding signs calling to “Abolish ICE” and demanding respect for immigrant communities. Additional gatherings took place near ICE facilities and at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, a point of deportation for migrants. Hundreds of clergy members were arrested at the airport for trespassing and civil disobedience, advocating for human dignity and the protection of families.
Conflicting accounts emerged regarding Liam’s detention. Local school authorities accused ICE of using the child as “bait” to enter his home, while ICE officials claimed they recovered him after his father fled and provided care at a restaurant before placing him in a family detention center. His father, Adrian Conejo Arias, remains in a Texas detention facility, while the boy has been reunited with family members under federal supervision.
The incident has drawn international scrutiny. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the routine mistreatment of migrants and urged the US to halt family separations. Locally, tensions are further heightened by the recent death of Renee Good at the hands of ICE, a case that continues to spark controversy. Minnesota authorities have challenged the ongoing ICE operation in court, citing violations of sanctuary policies, with a hearing scheduled for Monday.
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