CBS Host Stunned GOP Rep Actually Wants to Enforce Border Laws, Not Feelings [WATCH]

A tense exchange unfolded Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” after host Margaret Brennan repeatedly challenged Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales over immigration enforcement and the deportation of a family, centering on the detention of a five-year-old child during a federal immigration operation.

The discussion followed the circulation of a photograph in January 2026 showing five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos being detained by federal law enforcement agents. The image spread widely online and prompted renewed debate over immigration enforcement involving children.

The Department of Homeland Security later issued a statement clarifying that the child’s father, Adrian Conejo Arias, was the target of an illegal immigrant arrest operation. According to DHS, Ramos became involved in the arrest after his mother declined to take custody of him. The agency said Arias requested that his son remain with him while he was detained.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

During the broadcast, Brennan referenced the detention facility in Dilley, Texas, which is located in Gonzales’ district and is used for family detentions.

“So, Trump was not the first president of the United States to detain children. You have this facility, though, in your district, Dilley, and that is for family detentions. That’s where little five-year-old Liam Ramos from Minnesota was held before a judge — that’s the picture of him there — ordered him released,” Brennan said while displaying images. “He was ordered released because his family has a pending asylum claim. A legal process. He had entered with U.S. government permission through a process that the Biden administration had deemed legal, the current administration does not, the CBP One app.”

Brennan continued by citing an interview Arias gave to Telemundo, in which he said his son was struggling emotionally following the detention.

“It’s psychological trauma according to the father. And the administration’s still trying to deport him. Do you understand why they are so focused on this five-year-old and his dad if they did come in through the front door with U.S. government permission?” Brennan asked.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Gonzales began to respond by criticizing the Biden-era process but was interrupted.

“Well, the front door was via an app that Biden knew exactly what he was doing, and he created this huge mess and now President Trump is there to clean up. And immigration—” Gonzales said before Brennan interjected.

Brennan insisted the family had entered through the “front door,” prompting Gonzales to push back.

“Through an app that wasn’t vetted. And the bottom line is that he’s likely— they’re not going to qualify for asylum. So, what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand the five year old. And it, you know, it breaks my heart. I have a five-year-old at home. I also think, ‘What about that five-year-old U.S. citizen? What about our— ‘” Gonzales said before being cut off again.

“You feel comfortable defending that?” Brennan asked.

As Gonzales attempted to explain his position, Brennan interrupted once more.

“They were following the law,” Brennan said.

“That’s the rub is that a new administration deemed the last administration’s regulation not to be legal.”

Gonzales later stated that enforcing immigration laws and acting humanely are not mutually exclusive.

“We can be compassionate and we can also enforce our laws. And I think that’s the secret sauce that the administration and Congress must do. Let’s enforce our laws, but let’s do it in a humane way. The facility in Dilley, I’ve visited there many times. I’ve visited dozens of different facilities. It is a nice facility. It’s a detention facility for people that are in the country illegally that are about to be deported, but it is a nice facility. Nicer than some elementary schools here in San Antonio.”

Following Arias’ arrest in Minneapolis, he and his son were transferred to a detention facility in Texas. A federal judge ordered their release on Jan. 31. The two returned to Minnesota on Feb. 1, and the family was granted a continuance after DHS filed a motion to expedite deportation proceedings.

After the release, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement reiterating the agency’s account of the arrest.

“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias. Our officers made multiple attempts to get the alleged mother who was inside the house to take custody of her child. Officers even assured her she would NOT be taken her into custody. The alleged mother refused to accept custody of the child,” McLaughlin wrote. “The father told officers he wanted the child to remain with him.”

The use of family detention facilities is not new. The modern system was employed under both former President George W. Bush and former President Barack Obama.

During his two terms, Obama deported more illegal aliens than any other president.