BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Three Idaho families who are U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are suing after they and hundreds of others were detained for hours during an aggressive immigration raid at a rural horse racing track last year.
The families claim that state and federal law enforcement conspired to utilize unconstitutional tactics during the raid, alleging that individuals were detained based on their Latino appearance, kept in zip ties for hours without access to food, water, or bathrooms, and subjected to searches without reasonable suspicion of a crime.
This incident is part of a larger pattern of immigration enforcement actions across the U.S., which have embroiled both citizens and legal residents. Similar incidents have unfolded in other states, including an Alabama case involving a federal lawsuit aimed at addressing workplace raids under the Trump administration's policies.
Legal outcomes for past lawsuits alleging racial profiling and unlawful detention have varied. A federal judge in California had issued a restraining order against immigration agents for stops based solely on race or language; however, the Supreme Court later lifted this order, emphasizing the need for judicial deference in immigration enforcement.
The Idaho families were among approximately 400 individuals detained at the La Catedral race track, west of Boise. The raid, conducted as part of an FBI investigation into illegal gambling, reportedly led to just five arrests connected to the gambling claims but saw over a hundred others under suspicion for immigration violations.
Critics, including attorneys from the ACLU of Idaho, labeled the operation a fishing expedition for immigration violations as the legal warrant was focused on gambling.
This race track, a family-friendly venue for the local Latino community, was turned into a scene of chaos as law enforcement descended on the event. Attendees describe the experience of officers clad in militarized gear, using aggressive tactics like breaking car windows and using rubber bullets to subdue patrons.
The combined forces of various law enforcement agencies, including ICE and local police, responded to the scene, with allegations of racial epithets and physical assaults surfacing among the detainees. Some reported serious injuries resulting from excessive force, including painful restraints.
Following the raid, the Department of Homeland Security stated that the operation focused on dismantling illegal gambling, though the legality of their methods has been questioned, given the absence of relevant gambling-related arrests among the detained families.
Families affected by the raid have articulated emotional turmoil, witnessing their loved ones improperly detained and subjected to inhumane treatment, including being restrained in zip ties for extended periods and denied essential care for young children. They have since filed a lawsuit seeking reparation and class-action status to represent others impacted by the illegal detentions.
