CBC Lite Sections News • World U.S. IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN ICE arrest of 5-year-old in Minneapolis sparked fresh outcry. Here's how it unfolded Posted: January 22, 2026 6:48 PM | Last Updated: January 23 School officials speak out at emotional news conference after U.S. vice-president denies boy was arrested Embed | Backlash in Minnesota after ICE detains 5-year-old boy coming home from preschool Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. The Latest The Latest * The outcry against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has grown further since local officials said agents detained a five-year-old boy and his father in the Minneapolis area on Tuesday. * The lawyer representing the family of preschooler Liam Conejo Ramos says the family entered the U.S. lawfully to seek asylum. * The Columbia Heights Public Schools superintendent said officers told the boy to knock on the door to his home, "essentially using a five-year-old as bait." * Earlier today, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance denied the child was arrested and said officers had been targeting his father. * Minnesota has become a major focus of immigration sweeps by federal U.S. agencies, prompting widespread protests — especially following the shooting death of Renee Good on Jan. 7. Updates January 22, 2026 11:50 PM What to know today about a preschooler's detention Rhianna Schmunk Embed | What we know so far about the 5-year-old detained by ICE Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. As they did after the death of Renee Good, local and state officials characterized the federal detention of a five-year-old boy differently today. The Trump administration, represented by Vice-President JD Vance on a visit to Minneapolis, said the boy was detained because his father — who Vance described as an "illegal alien" — left him behind in the bitter Minnesota cold as he fled ICE agents. School district officials, the family's lawyer and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were unanimous in their condemnation of the preschooler's arrest, just one of four involving students in recent weeks, according to school officials. Images of the boy, wearing an oversized blue tuque with ear flaps and a Spider-Man backpack, provoked outcry about the arrest online. In separate remarks, Vance and Frey said they agreed state and federal officials need to better co-operate with one another on what, on the surface, was a shared goal: making cities safe. The issue lies in their different view on who poses a danger. The vice-president today said the federal presence in Minnesota is only as large as it is because "far-left agitators" have endangered immigration enforcement officers in the course of their work. Frey has said it's the Trump administration sowing chaos by flooding the city with federal officers who are detaining people who "have done nothing wrong." "This is more about political retaliation. This is more about, tragically, terrorizing people than it is about safety, than it is even about immigration," Frey said. Teachers were non-partisan in speaking about five-year-old Liam — a preschooler who they say is missed by his classmates — and their hope for a path forward. They said students just want to get back to school and staff would like to get back to teaching. January 22, 2026 11:35 PM ICE officers have sweeping power to enter homes without a warrant, memo says Rhianna Schmunk Image | Immigration Enforcement Minnesota (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab An internal ICE memo obtained by The Associated Press yesterday said agents have been directed to enter people's homes without a warrant from a judge. The directive undermines U.S. Supreme Court rulings, which generally say law enforcement cannot enter someone's home without approval from a judge. The Associated Press obtained the memo and whistleblower complaint from a Congressional official, who shared the material on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive documents. The outlet said it had verified the authenticity of the accounts in the complaint, though the memo has not been independently verified by CBC News. January 22, 2026 11:04 PM Minneapolis mayor calls ICE surge 'political retaliation' Mike Crawley Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA (Tim Evans/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is now talking to media. He says he rejects the Trump administration's claims that its immigration enforcement efforts in the city are targeted at criminals. "You can't say with a straight face that pulling citizens off the street or going into a school is a targeted action when clearly what we are seeing on our streets right now is discriminating on the basis of race," Frey told a news conference. He said he's willing to work "in good faith" together with the administration to reduce crime, but said the immigration surge is not about that. "In Minneapolis, we want to solve crime, we want to arrest murderers," Frey said. "If this was about getting murderers, we would be able to do that," he said. "This is more about political retaliation." January 22, 2026 10:54 PM Rhianna Schmunk Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA-CHILD (Seth Herald/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab The school officials conclude the news conference by speaking about the toll immigration enforcement has taken on staff, students and families. She said students just want to be learning and staff just want to be teaching. "What I'm requesting is a peaceful resolution to this situation... diplomatic and peaceful," Stenvik said. January 22, 2026 10:44 PM Rhianna Schmunk Stenvik has limited information about the other three students. She said it's her understanding that the 10-year-old student is still at a detention facility in Texas, as she said earlier today, but she could not speak to where the two 17-year-old students might be. January 22, 2026 10:43 PM Rhianna Schmunk Stenvik said she spoke to Liam's preschool teacher yesterday, who said "he was a wonderful child, a great student [and] that she and his classmates miss him." She said all of the teachers have been "shattered" by the detention of four students from their school district. January 22, 2026 10:43 PM Rhianna Schmunk In response to another question, Prokosch cites confidentiality and declines to provide more details on the asylum request from Conejo Ramos and his son. He also declines to say whether Liam's mother is a U.S. citizen. As mentioned, the attorney has said the father and son entered the U.S. legally through the crossing at Brownsville, Texas. Prokosch said he has not filed a habeas corpus petition — a request for a court to review the lawfulness of a detention — in his clients' defence but, after a long pause, said, "that's part of our legal strategy." A habeas corpus petition puts the onus on the government to prove the detention was legal. January 22, 2026 10:33 PM Rhianna Schmunk Prokosch said he could not find any criminal records for Liam's father, Adrian Conejo Ramos, in the Minnesota database. An earlier statement from the DHS described Conejo Ramos as "an illegal from Ecuador." January 22, 2026 10:32 PM Lawyer rejects Vance's 'illegal alien' accusation Mike Crawley Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA-CHILD (Seth Herald/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Prokosch pushed back at Vance’s characterization of Liam’s father as an "illegal alien." Prokosch said both father and son entered the U.S. at a border crossing in 2024, presented themselves to Customs and Border Protection officials, and applied for asylum. "These are not illegal aliens," Prokosch told the news conference. "They came legally and are pursuing a legal pathway." January 22, 2026 10:30 PM Rhianna Schmunk Stenvik is asked about the Trump administration's characterization that ICE agents detained the five-year-old because his father fled. She said she was inside the home to support the mother, who was "distraught," and did not see the father run — but saw him handcuffed in the driveway. Granlund said she offered to take the child, but cannot recall what agents said back to her. She watched the officers drive away. The two women have been describing a fluid situation outside the family home, with people yelling and speaking over one another. January 22, 2026 10:28 PM Rhianna Schmunk Prokosch said he has not had "direct contact" with Liam's father, but has had "indirect contact." He said he wasn't representing the family before their detention and has been on their case for the past 36 hours or so. He said he believes father and son are being detained together, but he can't be 100 per cent sure. "We've been trying to set up calls with the Dilley [Texas] facility," he said. January 22, 2026 10:19 PM Rhianna Schmunk Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA-CHILD (Seth Herald/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Granlund said she witnessed the arrest of Liam and his father on Tuesday because she was picking up her own children from school at the time. She said she got out of her car when she heard the "commotion," walked around the corner and heard people saying, "Don't take the child." "There was ample opportunity to be able to safely hand that child off to adults. Mom was there." January 22, 2026 10:17 PM Rhianna Schmunk Mary Granlund, school board chair, gets emotional as she speaks about the anxiety she says she has seen in schools. "At the end of the day, we have whistles and they have guns," she said, repeating a portion of the statement released by Renee Good's widow. January 22, 2026 10:15 PM Rhianna Schmunk Zena Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, is speaking after Prokosch. "Over the last few weeks, I've kept my head down and focused just on supporting our school, our school district, our families, our students or staff. But as of this week, four of our students have been apprehended and taken away by masked and armed ICE agents with no identifying badges. So we decided it was time to speak up and share what's actually going on," she said. "The onslaught of ICE activity in our community is inducing trauma and is taking a toll on our children, taking a toll on our families, our staff, our community members. This surge has changed nearly everything about our daily lives." January 22, 2026 10:14 PM Rhianna Schmunk In closing, Prokosch said the scale and speed of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has led to federal agents in the field without the proper training, oversight or protections in place. "It raises the likelihood that things are going to go badly," he said. He added: "We do recognize the need for immigration enforcement, but it must be measured, accountable, proportional, not endangering communities and lawful." January 22, 2026 10:12 PM Rhianna Schmunk Prokosch said detaining children and families seeking asylum is "inhumane and unacceptable," subjecting parents and children to trauma. He said the Conejo-Ramoses did not violate immigration law, but if they had, immigration violations are a civil matter. "How can you justify detaining a child because of a civil violation?" January 22, 2026 10:07 PM Rhianna Schmunk Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA-CHILD (Seth Herald/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab Prokosch, who was a high school teacher before he became an attorney, begins by saying Liam and his dad entered the U.S. lawfully through a port of entry to seek asylum and the Brownsville border crossing in Texas through the CBP app to escape "persecution from their home country." January 22, 2026 10:00 PM Family's lawyer is addressing the 5-year-old boy's arrest Rhianna Schmunk Marc Prokosch is speaking from his office in Roseville, Minn., now. In an interview earlier, he said five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were still being held at a detention facility in Texas. January 22, 2026 9:58 PM 'Of course' Renee Good shooting is being investigated: Vance Mike Crawley During his news conference, Vance denied that ICE officers who break the law while carrying out their duties are immune from prosecution. He insisted federal officials are investigating Good's death. An ICE agent shot Good behind the wheel of her vehicle on Jan. 7, intensifying the protests against the immigration enforcement push. "Of course we're going to investigate these things. Of course we're investigating the Renee Good shooting," Vance said. "If somebody did something wrong, yes, they're going to face disciplinary action. But we're not going to judge them in the court of public opinion," he said. However, the deputy federal attorney general, Todd Blanche, said on the weekend that the shooting is not under investigation. "We investigate when it's appropriate to investigate," Blanche told Fox News on Sunday. "And that is not the case here. January 22, 2026 9:44 PM I don't want to abandon students, teacher says Sheena Goodyear In a separate interview with CBC's As It Happens, Hewett-Olantunde, who holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, says her friends in Canada keep asking her why she doesn't just come home. She says she doesn't want to abandon her students in a crisis. "I'm here to do the work that's needed," Hewett-Olantunde said. Anxiety in the area has ramped up in recent weeks, she added. "It is rapidly increasing with the number of people being detained indiscriminately based on nothing more than skin colour or accent. It doesn't matter if you are an adult, if you are a child — or even a five-year-old child," she said. January 22, 2026 9:42 PM Karen Pauls Hewett-Olantunde said Minnesotans feel very alone and overwhelmed. ICE vehicles are everywhere and the streets are "ghost towns." "We're not really sure where things are leading, but we know what we need to do to keep our kids safe," she said. January 22, 2026 9:42 PM Students are staying home from school in fear, teacher says Karen Pauls Image | USA-TRUMP/MINNESOTA-CHILD (Seth Herald/Reuters) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab I'm Karen Pauls, a senior reporter in Manitoba. A former Winnipegger who now teaches English as a second language at Humboldt High School in St. Paul, Minn., said many of her students are being kept at home because their parents are afraid of the immigration raids in their community. "We do not have students showing up to school, whether that be because they're scared or their families are scared to have them go to school," Amy Hewett-Olantunde said in an interview with CBC News today. She said teachers in yellow vests have been lining up in front of school buses to make sure every student gets on their bus home. Some are also delivering groceries to families so they can stay inside. January 22, 2026 9:31 PM YouTube star Ms. Rachel calls detainment 'horrifying' Natalie Stechyson Reports of Liam’s detainment have sparked an outpouring of reaction online. Rachel Anne Accurso, better known as U.S. television and YouTube star Ms. Rachel, wrote on Instagram that Liam and his father should be with their family. "As a mom I can't imagine my 5 year old away from me. Look at this sweet boy," Accurso wrote, alongside a photo of Liam wearing his blue tuque and Spider-Man backpack. "It’s horrifying to think of this precious child ripped from his home and put in a detention center. His classmates are traumatized to see their friend suddenly disappear." January 22, 2026 9:25 PM Minneapolis mayor weighs in Mike Crawley Image | Immigration Enforcement Minnesota (Adam Gray/The Associated Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab The mayor of Minneapolis is criticizing the detention of the five-year-old boy. "This is a child — not a threat to our community," Jacob Frey posted on X. "When the federal government treats kids like criminals, something has gone seriously wrong," he added. DHS responded to his post by saying its officers ensured the child was safe. "Lies like these, from elected officials such as yourself, put our officers at greater risk of attack," it said. January 22, 2026 9:15 PM 10-year-old still in Texas detention centre after 2 weeks: school official Natalie Stechyson Earlier today, Stenvik also gave more details about the 10-year-old who was detained two weeks ago. She said the Grade 4 student, who hasn't been named, was on her way to school with her mother when they were stopped by immigration agents. During the arrest, the child called her father to tell him ICE agents were bringing her to school, Stenvik said. "The father immediately came to the school to find that both his daughter and wife had been taken," she said. "By the end of the school day, they were already in a detention centre in Texas, and they are still there." Featured Media Embed | U.S. vice-president denies preschooler was arrested by immigration agents Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | What we know so far about the 5-year-old detained by ICE Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | ICE keeps up pressure in Minneapolis as Democrats warn about use of force Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | What we know about the woman who was shot by ICE Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Memorial grows for Minneapolis woman killed by U.S. immigration agent Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Minnesota officials, Trump admin give different accounts of fatal shooting Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Breaking down the moment an ICE agent fatally shot a Minnesota woman | Hanomansing Tonight Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Trump administration's 'recklessness' to blame for deadly ICE shooting, governor says Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | ‘Get the f–k out’: Mayor reacts after ICE shoots and kills woman Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Sadness, anger at Minneapolis vigil for woman fatally shot by ICE agent Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | ICE shooting: Noem says 'officer followed his training' Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Minneapolis mayor calls ICE self-defence claims 'bullshit' after woman killed Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Minnesota immigration crackdown met by organized opposition Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Embed | Trump launches ICE operation in Minnesota targeting Somalis Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. For images and videos read the full story. CBC Lite is a low-bandwidth website. To see what's new, check out our release notes. For high quality images, media, comments, and other additional features visit the full version of this story. We and select advertising partners use trackers to collect some of your data in order to enhance your experience and to deliver personalized content and advertising. If you are not comfortable with the use of this information, please review your device and browser privacy settings before continuing your visit. Learn more about Online Tracking and Privacy Choices. * Corrections and Clarifications * Terms of Use * Reuse & Permission * Privacy * Accessibility * Contact a Newsroom * Submit Feedback * Lite Help Centre * Jobs * RSS CBC Lite version: 1.8.10. ©2026 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved.