U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a 5-year-old boy and his father during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas, on August 16, as they were en route to a soccer match. The father, Victor Martinez Nieto, and his son, Liam Tadeo, are now being held at the Dilley Detention Center.

According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Nieto illegally entered the U.S. in March 2022 near Laredo, Texas. He had previously been arrested by ICE in Hutto, Texas, on November 15, 2025, and accepted voluntary departure. Nieto was removed from the country on February 12, 2026, but subsequently returned illegally at an unknown time and location, officials stated.

Patricia Resendiz, a family member who initiated a GoFundMe for Nieto and Liam, described the detention as cruel, emphasizing that they were not criminals but simply on their way to a soccer game. Resendiz reported that Liam, who was preparing to start kindergarten the week he was detained, was told by ICE agents, "You can't escape." She added that the experience has traumatized Liam and he will require psychological support if released.

DHS officials countered that parents have the option to be removed with their children or to designate a safe person to take custody of them, a policy consistent with past administrations. The spokesperson also noted that the Dilley Detention Center is equipped for families, offering access to teachers, educational materials, and addressing the safety, security, and medical needs of detainees.

The recent incident bears a striking resemblance to a January event where a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, was photographed with ICE agents while his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, was detained. Both father and son were also sent to the Dilley facility, which was constructed under the Obama administration. They were later released following a judge's order in February.

The DHS also stated that individuals in the country illegally are encouraged to take advantage of a program offering $2,600 and a free flight for self-deportation, with the possibility of returning legally. The department warned that failure to do so could result in arrest and deportation without the chance to return.