The father of a five-year-old boy detained by US immigration authorities has strongly denied government claims that he abandoned his child while fleeing federal agents, as the case fuels fresh outrage amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. Adrian Conejo Arias, originally from Ecuador, said he loves his son, Liam, and would never leave him behind, contradicting statements issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Speaking to ABC News after returning to Minnesota, Arias disputed DHS assertions that he fled on foot and left his son in a vehicle. He also alleged that Liam fell ill while in federal custody and was denied medication. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reiterated that Arias “abandoned his child” during the arrest, adding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stayed with the boy. She did not respond to claims regarding medical care.

The pair were released on Sunday following a federal judge’s order and returned to Minnesota, according to Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas. Arias maintained that his arrest was unjust and said he is legally in the US with a pending asylum case, though DHS said he entered the country illegally in December 2023.

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The incident has intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices as protests continue nationwide. In response to growing criticism, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that all DHS officers in Minneapolis will be issued body-worn cameras. President Trump defended the move, saying body cameras prevent false claims about law enforcement conduct.

Liam’s return sparked celebrations in his neighbourhood but also heightened tensions. His school in Columbia Heights briefly cancelled classes after receiving bomb threats, though authorities found no explosives. School officials said more than two dozen parents at the elementary school have been detained in recent weeks, forcing the district to offer online classes amid widespread fear.

The case has become emblematic of broader concerns over family separations and detention conditions. Democratic lawmakers who recently toured a Minnesota detention facility described what they called inhumane conditions, including lack of medical staff and inadequate living arrangements. A federal judge in Washington has since issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from restricting congressional access to immigration detention centres.

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