Ramos was photographed in a bunny hat as he was detained with his father during the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An immigration judge has denied the asylum claim of the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy photographed in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack as he was detained with his father during the immigration crackdown that shook Minneapolis earlier this year, a family lawyer said.

They were ordered deported to Ecuador, she said.

The boy and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who is from Ecuador, were taken into custody in a Minneapolis suburb on Jan. 20 and held for 10 days in a Texas detention center before a judge ordered them released.

The family’s lawyers are appealing the ruling by Judge John Burns.

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“We’re just gravely disappointed in the judge’s misguided decision,” said Danielle Molliver. “We’re committed to the family and we’ll fight the appeal, obviously, the best that we can.”

An appeal could take years to move through the courts, though Molliver said she expected the government to push for a speedier process.

“At minimum, I would hope we have a couple months,” she said.

Molliver said Liam is back in his suburban Minneapolis school, but that he and his father were badly shaken by their time in detention.

“They’re scared” now about what could happen, she said.

The arrests and national coverage unfolded during a surge of thousands of immigration officers across the Minneapolis area, leading to daily protests and the shooting deaths of two American citizens by federal officers.

Neighbors and school officials have accused federal immigration officers of using Liam as “bait” by telling him to knock on the door to his house so that his mother would come outside. The Department of Homeland Security has called that description of events an “abject lie.” Officials have said the father fled on foot and left the boy in a vehicle in their driveway. He has denied that.

The government said the boy’s father entered the U.S. illegally in December 2024. The family’s lawyer, however, says he entered legally, requesting asylum, and that his asylum claim allows him to stay in the U.S.

How Much Snow Did Minneapolis Get? Minnesota Digs Out After Major March Blizzard

A powerful late-season winter storm swept across Minnesota over the weekend of March 14–15, 2026, leaving behind dramatic snow totals, dangerous travel conditions, and widespread disruptions.

As residents across the state searched questions like “how much snow did Minneapolis get,” “snow totals for MN,” “MnDOT road conditions,” and “Minnesota road conditions today,” the answer turned out to be a story of a storm that hit some regions far harder than others.

While Minneapolis experienced moderate snowfall by Minnesota standards, communities farther south and east were buried under nearly two feet of snow, turning highways into white corridors and forcing officials to issue travel advisories and snow emergencies.

The storm’s aftermath highlights both the scale of the snowfall and the coordinated response from local governments, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and emergency services as the state works to recover.

A Powerful Weekend Blizzard Sweeps Across Minnesota

The storm arrived over the weekend with heavy snowfall, strong winds, and rapidly deteriorating visibility across southern Minnesota. By Sunday morning, blizzard-like conditions were reported across several counties.

Meteorologists say the system intensified as it moved across the Midwest, pushing bands of heavy snow through the Mississippi River Valley and southeastern Minnesota. Some of the worst conditions occurred overnight, when snowfall rates increased faster than snowplows could clear the roads.

At one point, the Minnesota Department of Transportation warned:

“Snowplows are having difficulty in current conditions but remain on the roads at this time. Current rates of snow are covering roads faster than snowplows can clear a driving lane.”

The storm also prompted whiteout conditions in parts of southern Minnesota, forcing officials to advise drivers to avoid travel.

How Much Snow Did Minneapolis Get?

The Twin Cities saw significant snowfall, though totals varied widely across neighborhoods.

Final measurements indicate that Minneapolis received roughly 8–9 inches of snow, while nearby areas recorded slightly different totals depending on location and storm intensity.

These totals were substantial but still lower than areas farther southeast, where the storm intensified.

Southeastern Minnesota Buried Under Heavy Snow

Communities southeast of the Twin Cities were hit hardest.

In that region, snowfall totals exceeded a foot in many towns, with some communities nearing two feet of accumulation.

These totals placed the March storm among the most significant winter events of the season for southeastern Minnesota.

Meteorologists noted that the heaviest snowfall occurred roughly 50–75 miles south and east of the Twin Cities, where the storm’s low-pressure system tracked slightly farther south than expected.

Minnesota Road Conditions: MnDOT Issues Travel Warnings

As the storm intensified, MnDOT road conditions became one of the most searched topics across Minnesota.

Authorities issued advisories warning drivers about extremely hazardous travel across southern counties, including:

Major highways, including Interstate 35 and Interstate 90, experienced dangerous driving conditions.

Officials temporarily closed parts of I-35 south of Albert Lea, coordinating with Iowa authorities to shut down the interstate across state lines.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported significant incidents during the storm, including:

These numbers highlight how quickly winter storms can disrupt travel across the Upper Midwest.

Flights Canceled and Schools Closed

The storm’s impact extended far beyond roadways.

At Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, hundreds of flights were canceled as heavy snow and poor visibility disrupted operations.

Reports indicate:

Meanwhile, school districts across the region shut down classrooms or moved to remote learning.

For example:

Local governments also declared snow emergencies to allow crews to clear streets and enforce parking restrictions.

Minnesota National Guard Prepared for Rescue Operations

As the storm approached, state officials prepared for potential emergencies.

Governor Tim Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist with storm response operations if needed.

Colonel John McCrae, the Guard’s director of operations, emphasized their readiness:

“We have armories all around the state, and that allows us to be able to respond pretty quickly in times like this.”

The Guard positioned equipment and personnel in communities across southern Minnesota, including Owatonna, Fairmont, Albert Lea, and Redwood Falls, ready to assist stranded motorists or emergency crews.

Why This Storm Hit Some Areas Harder Than Others

Meteorologists say the distribution of snowfall came down to the storm’s unexpected path.

Instead of tracking northeast toward Milwaukee, the system shifted south, moving from Kansas City toward the north side of Chicago.

That subtle shift placed southeastern Minnesota in the storm’s heaviest snow band, while the northern parts of the state saw much lighter accumulation.

The result was a storm where:

Road Conditions Improving — But Another System Is Coming

By Monday morning, the storm had moved east, allowing cleanup operations to begin.

Travel conditions gradually improved across southern Minnesota as snowplows cleared highways and local streets.

However, forecasters warn that winter isn’t finished yet.

A smaller weather system is expected to arrive late Tuesday, bringing 1–2 additional inches of snow to parts of the region.

After that, temperatures are expected to rise slightly, leading to snowmelt later in the week.

Life in Minnesota: Snowstorm Chaos — and Winter Fun

Despite the travel disruptions, many Minnesotans embraced the snowstorm.

Across parks and hills in the Twin Cities, children and families turned the blizzard into a weekend adventure.

One sledder described the excitement simply:

“I loved it when it was warm but it’s really fun when it’s cold, too, and all snowy because there are so many things you can do in the snow.”

Scenes like these illustrate the culture of winter resilience in Minnesota, where snowstorms are both a challenge and a tradition.

Conclusion

The March 2026 Minnesota snowstorm delivered a reminder that winter can still pack a punch even as spring approaches.

While Minneapolis received roughly 8–9 inches of snow, areas farther southeast saw totals exceeding 20 inches, making this one of the most significant late-season storms of the year.

With highways reopening, flights resuming, and snowplows working around the clock, Minnesota is gradually returning to normal.

But as residents know well, winter weather can shift quickly—and another round of snow may already be on the horizon.

The weekend snowstorm is over, but many flights into and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are still being canceled early Monday.

According to the airport's flight tracker, 41 flights arriving into the airport have been canceled as of 6 a.m. Monday. Another 19 flights departing the metro area have been canceled.

Still, according to the airport website, 429 flights are scheduled to depart on time, and 415 flights are expected to arrive on time.

In total, MSP Airport saw more than 660 cancelations over the weekend during the blizzard.

Hillary Albertson and her new husband drove six hours from Iowa to get to the airport..

"We saw 50 cars in the ditch — 58, I counted — like ten semis and one limo in the ditch," she said.

The newlyweds say Minneapolis-St. Paul staff were prepared to help them with their questions.

The Team Alaska cross country ski team was grateful for snow in Wisconsin a few days ago, but after a big win at the Junior National Championships, they're trying to get home to Anchorage.

Highs will be in the mid-teens Monday in the Twin Cities. Travel will improve, especially in southern Minnesota. It's still breezy at times with some blowing snow in open areas. Another storm system is expected to drop another inch or two of snow late Tuesday.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport says they'll serve more than 3.3 million people over a five-week spring break period ending April 6.

Nearly 500 crashes, 1 fatal, during March blizzard

In the hours between midnight Friday and midnight Monday, the Minnesota State Patrol says there were 464 property damage crashes on Minnesota roads.

One of those crashes resulted in a fatality, and 40 resulted in injuries.

The state patrol says there were also 46 spinouts and 651 cars off the road, along with 19 jackknifed semis.

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A weekend snowstorm blanketed parts of Minnesota with more than a foot of snow, leading to hundreds of school closings Monday.

St. Paul Public Schools says classes are canceled Monday, and it won't be an E-learning day.

"Discovery Club and Adult Basic Education will be closed. All other athletic events and after-school activities will be canceled, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis," district officials said. "Varsity Athletics may continue as scheduled at the discretion of the Site Administrator."

Minneapolis Public Schools have declared Monday a severe weather day, with no school for students in pre-K through fifth grade. Middle and high school students will have an e-learning day.

Conditions will be improved on Monday, but another storm system arriving late Tuesday will drop another inch or two of snow.

Check out the latest closings below.

Delays on this page are current as of

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Milwaukee loves itself a food-related raffle for a good cause. In the wake of our second annual Meatless Raffle, which took place at Cactus Club yesterday and raised money for Kinship Community Food Center, another Bay View business a block away will raffle off some tasty eats to bring in funds for a worthy organization.

On Thursday, March 12, (2457 S. Wentworth Ave., 414-763-4706) will host a “MKE 2 MN” meat and cheese raffle in an effort to extend support to Minneapolis restaurants that have been adversely impacted by ICE occupation in the city. The fundraising event—which is taking place on a night the restaurant is typically closed—is organized by Goodkind co-owner Katie Rose, a frequent Twin Cities visitor who says “Minneapolis is very near and dear” to her.

From 5-9 p.m. this Thursday, Goodkind will extend some support to Twin Cities restaurants in a way most any Wisconsin or Minnesota resident can get behind: raffling off meat and cheese. They’ll be selling raffle tickets and giving proceeds to , a collective of Minnesotans striving to offer financial support to independent restaurants and food service industry professionals affected by federal occupation.

Raffle tickets will cost $5 each. Raffle hauls and other items available on a prize wheel include goods from Blakesville Creamery, Fortune Gourmet, Hometown Sausage Kitchen, Hill Valley Dairy, Kettle Range Meat Co., Landmark Creamery, Odd Duck, Underground Meats, Uplands Cheese, Sweet Smoke Barbecue, Groppi’s Market, Chef Elena Terry, The Vanguard, Goodkind, and more. Though Goodkind’s kitchen won’t be open, they’ll be serving drinks (including Grain Belt beer Rose is stocking specifically for this event) and Sweet Smoke Barbecue will be set up outside during the event.

“This is not sustainable. This industry is tough enough,” Rose says in a press release. “So often, restaurants and bars are the first folks to help in a crisis, so we need to show up. Food is community. I might live in Milwaukee, but these are our neighbors and my heart breaks for these small businesses.”

Those who wish to support The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund directly can do so by donating , or you can just make your way to Goodkind this Thursday night to help Minneapolis restaurants and possibly win some meat and cheese in the process.