DILLEY, Texas (AP) — Texas state police deployed pepper balls to disperse protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, where 5-year-old Ecuadorian Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, are being held. Demonstrators against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown rallied outside the facility, banging drums, chanting and holding signs reading “Children are not criminals!”
Protesters yell at a Texas state trooper outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters yell at a Texas state trooper outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Texas state troopers wearing riot gear arrive to help disperse protesters gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state troopers wearing riot gear arrive to help disperse protesters gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Protesters march to the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters march to the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Protesters march along a highway towards the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters march along a highway towards the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
A police officer watches protesters, reflected in his sunglasses, gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A police officer watches protesters, reflected in his sunglasses, gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Texas state troopers wearing riot gear arrive to help disperse protesters gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas state troopers wearing riot gear arrive to help disperse protesters gathered outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
A protester holds up handcuffs to taunt a police officer during a demonstration outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A protester holds up handcuffs to taunt a police officer during a demonstration outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
A police officer uses barricade tape to contain protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A police officer uses barricade tape to contain protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
A canister of pepper spray launched by Texas troopers flies towards protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A canister of pepper spray launched by Texas troopers flies towards protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
A protester reacts to the effects of pepper spray launched by Texas troopers to disperse protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A protester reacts to the effects of pepper spray launched by Texas troopers to disperse protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY – Texas state troopers advance on protesters, launching pepper spray outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY – Texas state troopers advance on protesters, launching pepper spray outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
Protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Protesters gather outside the South Texas Family Residential Center detention facility where Liam Ramos and his father are being detained in Dilley, Texas, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
Read More
___
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.