Texas Migrant Detention Center Faces Protest Over Child’s Detention
The detention of an Ecuadorian child sparked protests by immigrant families and reignited national debate over the detention of minors.
Posted on 26/01/2026 at 16:04
- Protest at Texas Migrant Detention Center
- Detained Child Fuels Tension
- Families Demand Freedom
Dozens of immigrant families protested on Saturday behind the fences of a detention center in Texas.
The demonstration took place at the South Texas Family Residential Center, located in the city of Dilley.
Families protested following the transfer of a five-year-old Ecuadorian child and his father, according to Telemundo.
Ecuadorian Child’s Detention Sparks Protest in Texas
A story that should not get lost in other events—a «riot» inside the detention center where they sent the fully-legal 5yo with the bunny ear hat. Children’s voices recorded from outside the walls chanting «Let Us Out».https://t.co/w05pGm1joW
— John Nevelten (@NeveltenJohn) January 25, 2026
Both the child and his father were sent to the facility this week after being detained in Minnesota.
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Aerial photographs taken by The Associated Press documented the protest inside the complex.
The images showed children and parents wearing jackets and sweaters.
Some were holding signs that read “Freedom for the children.”
From outside the center, chants could also be heard during the demonstration.
Families shouted slogans such as “Freedom!” and “Let us go!”
Immigration attorney Eric Lee was inside the facility visiting a client.
Lee said he heard the chants while he was inside the center.
The protest took place amid rising tensions over immigration policies under the administration of Donald Trump.
The Case of the Ecuadorian Child Detained in Minnesota
Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE and held in a Texas detention center.
I am outraged, and you should be too. pic.twitter.com/djr2z1AG0N
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 22, 2026
The child was identified as Liam Conejo Ramos, five years old.
His father is Adrián Alexander Conejo Arias.
Both were detained on Tuesday in the state of Minnesota.
Their transfer to Texas has become a new focus of national controversy.
Government officials offered differing accounts of the detention procedure.
The family’s attorney and neighbors also provided contradictory statements.
Accounts differ on whether the parents were given the opportunity to leave the child with another person.
Conflicting Versions of the Detention
That same Saturday, another incident in Minneapolis further heightened tensions.
A federal immigration agent shot and killed a man.
That incident drew hundreds of protesters into the streets.
The demonstrations took place amid freezing temperatures.
The city was already affected by another fatal incident recorded weeks earlier.
These events increased public attention on the detention of Liam and his father.
The case added to existing divisions over immigration in the United States.
Conditions Reported Inside the Detention Center
As many as 1500 detainees at the Dilley ICE camp have erupted in protest.
Lawyers were kicked out amid chants of: «Let us out! libertad!!»
Detainees say ~80% are rebelling, motivated by the news from Minneapolis, the general strike, and the imprisonment of little Liam. https://t.co/PkVK3XEBNU pic.twitter.com/AR4p6YZqDm
— Max Granger (@_maxgranger) January 25, 2026
María Alejandra Montoya Sánchez, 31, spoke with The Associated Press.
She said she saw the father and child for a few minutes during the protest.
Montoya Sánchez has been detained in Dilley since October.
She is accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter.
According to her testimony, the protest was organized by the detained families themselves.
Families said they are exhausted by the length of their detention.
Advocates have denounced troubling conditions inside the facility.
Among the allegations were food containing worms.
They also reported frequent illnesses among detainees.
They cited what they consider insufficient access to medical care.
Eric Lee said he later spoke with clients inside the facility.
They told him the protest was connected to Liam’s case.
Lee said guards interrupted his scheduled visit.
According to him, they ordered everyone to leave the waiting area.
Legal Limits on ICE
Lee stated that families risk retaliation by protesting.
He said that risk demonstrates both their bravery and the seriousness of the conditions.
Marc Prokosch, the Conejo Ramos family’s lawyer, did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security also declined to comment on Saturday.
An ICE report filed in December provided additional context.
The document was part of an ongoing federal lawsuit.
According to that report, hundreds of children have been held beyond the court-ordered legal limit.
The situation continues to focus attention on the detention center in Dilley.
It also reinforces the national debate over the detention of immigrant families.
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