In brief
In October 2023, three families, alongside hundreds of others, were detained for hours during a controversial immigration raid at a horse racing track in Idaho. The families, all lawful U.S. residents, are suing law enforcement agencies, claiming they faced unconstitutional tactics including racial profiling and inhumane treatment. The ACLU of Idaho has filed the lawsuit, citing that the law enforcement operation was not just aimed at illegal gambling investigation but turned into a 'fishing expedition' for immigration violations. The families are seeking damages and want the case to be recognized as a class action.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In a significant legal development, three Idaho families, who are U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, are filing a lawsuit over their treatment during an aggressive immigration raid at a horse racing track last year. The raid, which took place at La Catedral—approximately an hour's drive from Boise—saw law enforcement agencies detaining hundreds for hours.
The plaintiffs claim that the methods used by the state and federal law enforcement were unconstitutional and replete with illegal tactics. Allegations include racial profiling, where individuals were targeted based on their Latino appearance, and the inhumane treatment of detainees, with several being kept in zip ties for hours without access to food, water, or bathrooms.
ACLU of Idaho's legal representatives described the raid as not only focused on gambling—prompted by an FBI-led investigation into illegal gambling—but as a pretext for mass immigration enforcement. Out of around 400 detentions, only five arrests were related to the gambling allegations; the majority faced immigration violations.
The families involved recall the extreme measures taken by law enforcement, which included at least 200 agents dressed in military gear who allegedly pointed weapons at terrified families and broke car windows, injuring those inside.
The complaint also criticizes the involvement of various agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local police departments, who did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the raid. The lawsuit specifically calls out instances of racial slurs used by officers towards Latinos during the raid. One of the plaintiffs reported being struck with a rifle butt after identifying as a citizen and having difficulty conversing in Spanish.
In a striking revelation, families indicated that at least eleven-year-old children were also subject to severe restraints, with severe emotional and physical distress reported. Juana Rodriguez, a lead plaintiff, described her inability to care for her three-year-old son due to enforced zip ties, highlighting the psychological toll of the situation on both parents and children.
Despite assurances from officials that no children were detained or harmed, the families seek to hold the law enforcement agencies accountable through this federal lawsuit. They are aiming to present their case as a class action, extending the reach to other legal residents with similar experiences and demanding damages for the suffering endured.
