It is as if a mom fled slavery with her child, died during the travails of the journey - and when they reached the land of freedom - they insisted on returning the child to his slave father.
And the slave owner can trot out his slave and have him dutifully recite that he wants his son back.
But what they really want is another slave, and to show the slaves that even if they escape, they can still be sent back to slavery.
Perfect analogy... Thank you!