In a significant development from San Antonio, a federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation of a 5-year-old boy from Ecuador and his father, highlighting the ongoing controversies surrounding U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration.

On Monday, U.S. Judge Fred Biery ruled that young Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, cannot be removed or transferred, pending the outcome of an ongoing legal case. This decision means the duo will remain at a family detention facility located in Dilley, Texas, close to San Antonio, as the case unfolds.

The father and son were apprehended last week outside their Minnesota residence. According to neighbors and school officials, federal immigration officers allegedly used the preschooler as a “bait” by instructing him to knock on the door, prompting his mother to answer. This account has sparked public outrage and drawn attention to the methods used in immigration enforcement.

However, the Department of Homeland Security has strongly refuted these claims, branding them as an “abject lie.” The agency asserts that Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias attempted to flee on foot, leaving Liam in a running vehicle parked in their driveway, which contradicts the narrative provided by local witnesses.

The Department of Homeland Security has called that description of events an “abject lie.” It said the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot and left the boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, in a running vehicle in their driveway.

Ramos’ attorney, Jennifer Scarborough, and the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment about the ruling.

Federal officials say the father was in the U.S. illegally, without offering details. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said the man entered the country without proper documents in December 2024.

The family’s attorney said he had a pending asylum claim allowing him to stay in the country.

This is a breaking news story. More details will be added as more information becomes available.