Vice President JD Vance has publicly addressed growing national backlash following reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained at least four children in Minnesota, including one as young as five years old, during recent immigration enforcement actions.
The controversy has intensified in recent weeks as ICE agents carried out a series of operations across Minneapolis aimed at detaining individuals suspected of being in the United States without legal authorization. The scope and visibility of the actions have drawn sharp criticism from community leaders, educators, and civil rights advocates, particularly after reports emerged involving young children.
Public tensions escalated further following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, during an encounter involving ICE agents on the morning of January 7. The incident intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics in the city and fueled protests and public demonstrations.
Additional outrage followed reports that ICE agents visited a Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis for lunch and later returned the same day to arrest several employees. The incident heightened concerns within immigrant communities and prompted allegations of intimidation and targeting.
Those fears grew more acute after reports surfaced that five-year-old preschool student Liam Ramos was taken into ICE custody on January 20 after returning home from school.
Reports of Children Detained Spark Alarm
Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the Columbia Heights Public Schools district, stated that Liam and his father were apprehended by ICE officials. Reports indicated that Liam was one of four children from the district, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights, who had been detained during recent enforcement activity.
Stenvik strongly criticized the actions, accusing federal agents of “roaming our neighborhoods, circling our schools, following our buses, coming into our parking lots and taking our kids,” and said the incidents left children “traumatized” and the broader community “shaken.”
News of children being swept up in immigration enforcement triggered widespread condemnation online and prompted protests from local residents, advocacy groups, and elected officials. Comparisons were made by critics to authoritarian tactics, with some describing the scenes as deeply alarming and unethical.
The situation drew sufficient attention that Vice President Vance addressed the issue during a visit to Minnesota, defending federal enforcement efforts while placing responsibility for unrest on local leadership.
Vance Criticizes Local Cooperation With Federal Authorities
During a meeting held in the city—one that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara were not invited to attend—Vance asserted that local authorities were failing to cooperate with federal law enforcement.
He claimed city officials were “being told by somebody not to cooperate at all” with ICE agents.
“What kind of a person tells their local police, ‘Don’t protect somebody if they’re being assaulted by a rioter’. It’s crazy. And it’s got to stop,” Vance said.
The vice president argued that Minneapolis was experiencing a higher level of unrest than other major cities where similar operations had taken place.
“We’re seeing this level of chaos, only in Minneapolis,” Vance said. “LA and Chicago, we had some problems there. Pretty much every jurisdiction these guys are operating, you don’t see the same level of chaos, you don’t see the same level of violence, you don’t see the same problems that we’re seeing in Minneapolis.”
He attributed the situation to what he described as insufficient cooperation between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies.
“And it’s the lack of cooperation being state law enforcement and federal law enforcement,” Vance added.
Vance Addresses the Case of Five-Year-Old Liam Ramos
Vance also directly addressed the case involving Liam Ramos, offering his interpretation of events and disputing claims that the child had been arrested.
“I saw this terrible story while I was coming. We just left Toledo, Ohio this morning for an economic event and I see –– and I’m a father of a five-year-old, actually, a five-year-old little boy,” Vance said.
“And I think to myself, oh, my God, this is terrible. How did we arrest a five-year-old? Well, I do a little bit more follow up research and what I find is that the five-year-old was not arrested, that his dad was an illegal immigrant, and that when they went to arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran.”
Vance continued by challenging the characterization of ICE’s actions.
“So, the story is that ICE detained a five-year-old. Well, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?”
He further argued that exempting parents from enforcement due to having children would undermine the rule of law.
“If the argument is that you can’t arrest people who have violated our laws because they have children, that every single parent is going to be completely given immunity from ever being the subject of law enforcement, and that doesn’t make any sense. No one thinks that makes any sense.”
Conflicting Accounts of the Arrest
The explanation offered by federal officials has been sharply contested by local authorities and legal representatives.
A news release issued by Columbia Heights Public Schools stated that an adult known to Liam’s family had offered to take custody of the child during the incident. The release claimed ICE agents declined that option and instead led the child to his front door and instructed him to knock, “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait.”
That account further intensified criticism of ICE’s handling of the situation and renewed calls for greater protections for children during immigration enforcement actions.
Liam’s father’s attorney strongly disputed the federal version of events, rejecting claims that the man attempted to flee. The attorney stated that Liam’s father was in the United States legally and was awaiting an asylum determination at the time of his detention.
Community Impact and Ongoing Tensions
The conflicting narratives have left Minneapolis residents divided and anxious. Educators and parents expressed concern about the psychological toll on children who witnessed or experienced the enforcement actions. Community leaders reported increased fear among families, particularly in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.
Protests and public forums have continued as residents demand clearer guidelines and safeguards to prevent children from being caught in enforcement operations. Critics argue that the presence of ICE near schools and residential areas undermines trust and disrupts daily life.
Federal officials maintain that agents are following legal protocols and prioritizing public safety, while opponents insist that recent actions demonstrate a lack of sensitivity and oversight.
As debate continues, the events in Minneapolis have become a focal point in the broader national discussion about immigration enforcement, local cooperation with federal agencies, and the treatment of children during law enforcement operations.