Adrian Conejo Arias, who is originally from Ecuador, has spoken out against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's claims that he abandoned his son, Liam, while being detained by immigration officers in Texas. In a recent interview, Arias expressed his love for his son and asserted that he would never willingly leave him behind.
The controversy arose after DHS officials alleged that Arias fled on foot before his arrest, leaving Liam in a vehicle. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that while officers stayed with the boy, this account has been disputed by Arias, who claims his son fell ill while in custody and was denied necessary medication.
“The facts in this case have NOT changed: The father who was illegally in the country chose to take his child with him to a detention center,” McLaughlin said in a statement, not addressing Arias's claims regarding his son's treatment.
Furthermore, Arias is asserting that he was in the U.S. legally with a pending asylum application, disputing the government's narrative surrounding his detention. This incident has ignited widespread outrage, particularly as images of the child in distress have circulated, prompting accusations that federal officers used him as leverage to apprehend his mother.
The circumstances of the pair's detention unfolded during President Trump's forceful immigration enforcement actions, which have faced significant backlash, further intensifying the public's reaction to incidents involving families and children.
In response to the situation, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the immediate release of Arias and Liam, condemning the administration for its pursuit of deportation quotas that traumatize children.
This incident raises critical questions about the treatment of asylum-seekers and the strategies utilized by enforcement agencies amid a politically charged immigration climate.
