BREAKING Father with Child Detained by ICE who Went Viral - Now Free as Judge Invokes Scripture saying 'Jesus Wept' at Hearing



'Jesus Wept': Federal Judge Invokes Scripture in Release of Detained Father and Child

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. — In a decision echoing the Church’s call for the protection of the family unit and the dignity of the migrant, a federal judge has ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from immigration detention, grounding his ruling in both Constitutional law and the words of the Gospel.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery of the Western District of Texas granted a writ of habeas corpus on Jan. 31 for Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias and his son, Liam.



The pair, asylum-seekers from Ecuador, had been apprehended by federal agents in Minnesota on Jan. 20 as the child returned home from preschool. They were subsequently transferred to a detention center in Texas.

A Biblical Rebuke

In a move rarely seen in federal court orders, Judge Biery concluded his sharply worded filing by invoking the person of Jesus Christ. Below his signature, the judge included a social media image of young Liam—wearing a bunny hat and carrying his school backpack at the moment of his arrest—accompanied by two poignant Scripture citations:

  • Matthew 19:14: "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

  • John 11:35: "And Jesus wept."

The citations serve as a moral indictment of the "traumatizing" nature of the detention. The judge’s inclusion of the shortest verse in the Bible, Jesus wept, underscores the profound grief often associated with the separation of families and the treatment of the vulnerable.

Upholding Human Dignity and Due Process

The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, emphasized that the father and son were not "illegal aliens," but individuals following the established legal protocols for asylum. They had presented themselves at the border in 2024 and had remained compliant with all court dates.

Judge Biery’s ruling was not merely a spiritual appeal but a stern defense of the Rule of Law. He characterized the government’s actions as:

  • A violation of the Fourth Amendment: He noted that administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not meet the "probable cause" requirements of the Constitution.

  • A failure of humanity: The judge criticized the "incompetently-implemented" pursuit of deportation quotas that results in the distress of children.

  • Historical overreach: He compared current enforcement tactics to the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence against King George III, specifically citing the harassment of people by "Swarms of Officers."

Back Home in Minnesota

The father and son returned to their home in Columbia Heights on Feb. 1. Reflecting on the moment of their arrest, Adrian Conejo Arias recalled the suddenness of the encounter with agents just as they arrived home from preschool.

While their asylum case remains pending, the judge’s ruling ensures they can pursue their legal claim while remaining together as a family. In his closing remarks, Biery noted that while the legal system may eventually require individuals to return to their home countries, such a result "should occur through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place."

with information from ABC news/CNN/NCR

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