Judge blocks removal of 5-year-old detained by ICE in Minnesota

A judge has temporarily blocked the removal of a 5-year-old and his father who were detained as part of the government's ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota. 

A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked the removal of a 5-year-old and his father who were detained last week as part of the federal government's ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota. 

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was apprehended by immigration officials shortly after arriving home from preschool while his father was in their driveway, school officials said last week. 

In the order issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery said that Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, cannot be removed from the district in Texas pending the habeas case challenging their detention. 

"Respondents SHALL NOT TRANSFER Petitioners Adrian Conejo Arias and L.C.R., a minor child, outside of this judicial district during the pendency of this litigation and until further Order of this Court," Judge Biery wrote.

The father and son, at the time of their detention, had a pending asylum case but no order of deportation directing that they be removed from the United States.