The detention of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy with his father outside their home in Minnesota has become the latest lightning rod for America’s divisions on immigration under the Trump administration. The incident has sparked conflicting narratives from school officials, ICE agents, and family lawyers, all while the child and father are held in a Texas detention center.
At a Glance
- Key event: ICE agents allegedly used a 5-year-old as bait, prompting a heated debate over child detention.
- Legal twist: The father entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024 but may have a pending asylum claim.
- Current status: Both father and son are at a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, where conditions have been criticized.
- Why it matters: The case highlights tensions over ICE policies on child custody and the broader debate about immigration enforcement.
Context
Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik told reporters that ICE officers instructed the boy to knock on his home’s door to see if anyone was inside. She described the action as “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait.” The father allegedly told the mother not to open the door. School officials said agents would not leave the child with other adults.
An online court summary shows the case was filed on Dec. 17, 2024 and is assigned to the immigration court inside the Dilley detention center. The father’s attorney said the family has a pending asylum claim that could keep the family in the country.
Conflicting Accounts
School and Neighbor Statements
- Zena Stenvik: “Why detain a 5-year-old? You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”
- Mary Granlund: “I told agents that I could take care of him.”
- Neighbor: “I had papers authorizing me to take care of Liam on behalf of the parents.”
ICE Official Statements
- Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security spokeswoman: “ICE did NOT target, arrest a child or use a child as ‘bait.'” She added that officers tried to get the mother to take custody and that they “abided by the father’s wishes to keep the child with him.”
- Greg Bovino, Border Patrol Commander at Large: Criticized the “false media narrative” and called the case a “false media narrative.”
- Marcos Charles, ICE enforcement and removal operations director: Said the father “abandoned his child in the middle of winter in a vehicle.” He added that one officer stayed with the child while others arrested the father.
ICE Policy and Legal Framework
| Date | Event | Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | Father entered the U.S. illegally | DHS | No details released |
| Dec. 17, 2024 | Case filed | Immigration Court | Dilley detention center |
| July 2023 | “Detained Parents Directive” issued | ICE | States ICE should not take custody of children during enforcement actions |
The directive requires ICE to allow parents and guardians to arrange alternate care before detention. It does not specify what happens when parents want the child to stay with them. Neha Desai of Children’s Human Rights and Dignity explained, “When ICE detains a parent, its own policy requires them to allow time for arrangements to be made for the child’s care.”
Current Situation
The father and son are at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at Children’s Rights, visited the facility last week and said the number of children had skyrocketed. She added that 400 children had faced extended detention, with many having been held for over 100 days. “Nearly every child we spoke to was sick,” Welch said.
Bovino challenged other law-enforcement agencies, saying, “I challenge any other law enforcement agency anywhere nationwide to show me the fantastic care that ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol provide children.” Charles countered that the family centers “get top-notch care. They have medical care. The food is good. They have learning services. They have church services available. They have recreation.”
The family’s lawyer, Marc Prokosch, said Thursday that he assumed the father and son were in a family holding cell but could not directly contact them. He added, “We’re looking at our legal options to see if we can free them either through some legal mechanisms or through moral pressure.” On Friday, Prokosch’s office said he was unavailable to comment.
Key Takeaways
- The incident illustrates deep divisions over ICE’s handling of children during enforcement actions.
- Conflicting narratives from school officials, ICE agents, and family lawyers highlight the lack of clarity in policy application.
- The detention center’s conditions have drawn criticism from child-rights advocates.
- The legal status of the child remains uncertain, with the father’s asylum claim potentially delaying deportation.
- The case underscores the broader debate on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
