(Washington, DC) – Rep. Ilhan Omar ignited a firestorm on social media this week after accusing federal immigration authorities of detaining a 5-year-old child during an enforcement operation.
“ICE just detained a 5-year-old child,” Omar wrote on X. “Don’t tell us this is about ‘the worst of the worst.’ That’s a lie. Absolutely vile.”
But the Department of Homeland Security quickly pushed back, calling the congresswoman’s claim false and misleading, and releasing details that paint a very different picture of what happened.
According to DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting a targeted operation on January 20 to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national who entered the U.S. illegally and was released into the country under the Biden administration.
When agents approached the suspect, DHS says Conejo Arias fled on foot, abandoning his child at the scene.
“For the child’s safety, one ICE officer stayed with the child while other agents apprehended the suspect,” DHS said in a statement, stressing that the child was never targeted or detained.
Federal officials added that ICE follows longstanding policy when children are present during arrests. Parents are given the option to be removed with their children, or to have their children placed with a safe adult designated by the parent. DHS also noted that families may opt for voluntary departure, which includes a free flight and up to $2,600 in assistance through the CBP Home app, preserving the possibility of legal reentry in the future.
The sharp rebuttal fueled backlash against Omar, with critics accusing her of spreading misinformation to inflame outrage against immigration enforcement. Supporters of ICE argue the incident highlights a recurring pattern: activists blaming federal agents for situations created by adults who flee arrests, even when children are left behind.
The exchange has become the latest flashpoint in the national immigration debate, underscoring the deep divide between Democratic lawmakers and federal enforcement agencies over border policy, public safety, and political messaging.
