Fundraiser for Five-Year-Old Taken by ICE in Minneapolis Surpasses $110,000 Goal
A fundraising appeal established to support the family of a five-year-old Minneapolis boy, who was seized by immigration officers alongside his father and transported to a detention facility in Texas, has garnered an extraordinary response, raising more than $110,000 in a single day. The campaign, titled "Help Bring 5-Year-Old Liam Home", was initiated on behalf of the boy's mother, Erica, to cover the substantial legal expenses required to secure their release from custody.
Community Rallies Behind Family in Distress
Organised by Sarai Orquiz at the request of Liam Ramos's mother, the fundraiser quickly gained momentum as news of the incident spread throughout the community. Orquiz stated that she remains in regular contact with Erica, who has expressed profound gratitude for the overwhelming support and kindness shown by donors during this incredibly challenging period.
The family is reportedly doing everything within their power to reunite with Liam and his father, though the costs associated with legal representation have proven prohibitive without external assistance. According to Orquiz's statement, while Erica has managed to establish contact with her son and husband, who have indicated they are "fine", the reality of their situation remains deeply troubling.
Details of the Detention Incident
The circumstances surrounding the detention align with information provided by Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the Columbia Heights school district in the Minneapolis suburbs. Stenvik confirmed that Ramos and his father were taken into custody while on their driveway on Tuesday, before being removed to a detention centre in Texas.
Liam, who recently celebrated his fifth birthday, represents one of four children from the school district who have been detained by federal immigration agents during what has been described as an enforcement surge in the region over the past fortnight. For more than twenty-four hours following the incident, Liam's mother had no knowledge of her family's whereabouts, only learning of their location when the father managed to place a call from Texas.
Legal Representation and Official Response
Marc Prokosch, the attorney representing the family, has confirmed that both father and son are believed to be together in detention. He emphasised that the family has an active asylum case and that no deportation order has been issued against them. "They did not come here illegally. They are not criminals," Prokosch stated unequivocally.
In a contrasting narrative, the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media platform X that the boy's father had "abandoned" his son during the apprehension attempt. The post claimed that ICE agents were conducting a targeted operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, described as an illegal alien from Ecuador, when he allegedly fled on foot, leaving his child behind. According to the statement, an ICE officer remained with the child for safety reasons while other officers apprehended Conejo Arias.
Notably, the official response did not address why the child was subsequently taken into detention alongside his father, nor did it explain the considerable distance between the detention facility and the family's Minneapolis home.
Fundraising Campaign Developments
The GoFundMe campaign experienced a temporary suspension lasting several hours on Thursday, though it was restored to operational status by mid-afternoon, with donations continuing to accumulate beyond the $110,000 mark. While GoFundMe did not provide immediate commentary on the suspension, such pauses can occur while the platform verifies account authenticity or reviews fund usage and recipient details.
Orquiz confirmed that Erica has been added as a beneficiary to the fundraiser and is working to link her bank account to receive donations directly. The emotional toll on the family has been substantial, with Orquiz describing how this sudden separation has left the family heartbroken and desperate for reunion. Liam's mother and siblings reportedly miss him terribly and remain deeply concerned for his safety and wellbeing in detention.
