DHS blasts claim ICE 'detained' Minn 5-year-old—says illegal alien dad abandoned him and ran

In response to a report claiming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a 5-year-old boy in Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that the child was abandoned by an illegal immigrant who was the subject of a targeted arrest.

Ilhan Omar shared the report from a local NBC affiliate and said, "ICE just detained a 5-year-old child. Don’t tell us this is about 'the worst of the worst.' That’s a lie. Absolutely vile."

In response, DHS said, "ICE did NOT target a child. The child was ABANDONED. On January 20, ICE conducted a targeted operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias an illegal alien from Ecuador who was RELEASED into the U.S. by the Biden administration."

"As agents approached the driver Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement. Parents can take control of their departure and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way," the agency added in a post.

The original report claimed that the 5-year-old, Liam Ramos, was detained by ICE agents "alongside his father as they were driving home from school." The report from the NBC affiliate cites the school district leaders, who also claimed that there have been three other students who have been detained by ICE.