Latest news with #DeltaDownsRacetrack
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Immigration raid at Louisiana racetrack ends with more than 80 arrests
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested upward of 80 people unlawfully in the country during a raid at a southwest Louisiana racetrack, the agency announced Tuesday. ICE said it raided the Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel and Casino in Calcasieu Parish on Monday alongside other state and federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Border Patrol. The raid angered one racehorse industry group and comes at a time when the Trump administration is pursuing more arrests. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and the main architect of Trump's immigration policies, has pushed ICE to aim for at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Trump's second term. ICE said authorities had 'received intelligence' that businesses operating at the racetrack's stables employed 'unauthorized workers' who were then targeted in the raid. Of the dozens of workers detained during the raid, 'at least two' had prior criminal records, according to the agency. 'These enforcement operations aim to disrupt illegal employment networks that threaten the integrity of our labor systems, put American jobs at risk and create pathways for exploitation within critical sectors of our economy,' said Steven Stavinoha, U.S. Customs and Border Protection director of field operations in New Orleans, in a written statement. But some racing industry leaders were livid. 'To come in and take that many workers away and leave the horse racing operation stranded and without workers is unacceptable,' said Peter Ecabert, general counsel for the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents 29,000 thoroughbred racehorse owners and trainers, including at Delta Downs. 'If they (ICE) were willing to come in and try and work with us, we are willing to make sure things are done in an orderly way,' Ecabert added. 'But what they have done here leaves everyone in a bad situation.' Groomers and other stable workers are essential and allow horses to receive round-the-clock skilled care, Ecabert said, noting that the work is grueling and it can be very difficult to find people willing to do the job. David Strow, a spokesperson for the racetrack's owner, Boyd Gaming Corporation, said that the company 'complies fully' with federal labor laws and that 'no Delta Downs team members were involved.' 'We will cooperate with law enforcement as requested,' he added in an emailed statement. In the past few weeks, ICE has engaged in other large-scale raids across Louisiana. On May 27, the agency raided a federally funded flood-reduction project in New Orleans and reported arresting 15 Central American workers. And the agency said it arrested 10 Chinese nationals working at massage parlors in Baton Rouge during a June 11 raid. Rachel Taber, an organizer with the Louisiana-based immigrant rights group Unión Migrante, criticized the raids as harmful and hypocritical. 'Our economy runs on immigrants,' Taber said. 'And when we let ourselves be divided by racial hatred, our economy for everyone suffers.' ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Fox News
Louisiana racetrack ICE raid nets more than 80 illegal migrants during worksite enforcement operation
FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and several other federal law enforcement agencies worked together to arrest more than 80 illegal migrants, including several with criminal records, during a worksite enforcement operation at a Louisiana racetrack. The joint operation — which was carried out on June 17th — was conducted after a brief pause on immigration arrests at farms, hotels and restaurants was lifted. Authorities received intelligence that businesses operating out of the stables at the Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, were employing unauthorized workers, according to sources at ICE. "ICE Homeland Security Investigations is working closely with our federal and state partners to review each case of unauthorized employment at the racetrack to identify any other criminal activities that were taking place in addition to labor exploitation and immigration violations," said ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. While most of the arrests at the racetrack were related to immigration violations, several criminal migrants were also identified. Among the arrested was Enrique Gonzalez Moreno, 36, who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico four times. While in the country illegally, Moreno was convicted twice for driving under the influence and once for cocaine possession and illegal reentry, according to ICE. Authorities are continuing to process the illegal migrants. "Oftentimes, when we're conducting these worksite enforcement operations, we uncover other forms of criminal conduct, such as document and benefit fraud, money laundering and human trafficking," DeLaune said. "As a result, we're able to bolster public safety in the local community by eliminating that criminal activity and removing any dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members or other egregious immigration offenders who illegally entered the country and are working at the business without authorization." Worksite enforcement investigations focus on identifying businesses involved in hiring unauthorized workers. They aim to reduce illegal employment and hold employers accountable, according to the ICE website. The joint operation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The arrests follow a week of anti-ICE protests that have taken place in major cities across the U.S., with some turning into violent riots in areas like LA and Portland. Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
