St. Paul, MN - On Wednesday, reports emerged that ICE had abducted a five-year-old child in Columbia Heights. Shortly after arriving home from school with his father, Liam Conejo Ramos was separated from his detained father, was directed by ICE agents to go to the family’s front door, and then was used as bait to gain access to the preschooler’s mother. Both Liam and his father are in good standing with their immigration process, with no order for deportation. It is now believed that the child has been flown to Texas and separated from his father.
Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL - Spring Lake Park), Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL - New Brighton), and Sen. Mary Kunesh (DFL - New Brighton) represent Columbia Heights and issued the following statement:
“These actions are out of line with the values, civil rights, and freedoms enshrined in the United States Constitution. In the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, the actions of Federal ICE agents are clearly the deliberate exploitation of a child's vulnerability that should shock every American. The federal government has chosen to occupy an American state and separate families, and has no reservations about resorting to evil tactics to do it.
“Our community has been a steady focus by ICE, disrupting businesses, schools, our ability to worship, and is being terrorized in an unprecedented manner. We insist that relevant authorities immediately address the legal and ethical concerns surrounding Liam and his father’s detention, and return both to their lawful home. For the health and well-being of our community and our state, ICE must leave Minnesota immediately.
“The silence from the Republicans of Minnesota is deafening. To all of our colleagues who are turning a blind eye as the federal government attacks Minnesotans' Constitutional freedoms, we want to know — what will it take to get you to care?”
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