More than 100 detained in ICE raid at Delta Downs
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded Delta Downs on Tuesday as they conducted a raid of the track’s backstretch in search of undocumented workers. The track located in Vinton, La. is in the middle of its quarter horse meet.
Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Ed Fenasci said immigration enforcement officers shut down all entrances and exits at the track and deployed drones during the raid in search of undocumented workers. He added that he received updates regarding the raid from other sources as nobody from his staff was allowed on the property.
Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, told BloodHorse that more than 100 people were detained with zip ties outside the track kitchen. The Paulick Report reported Wednesday there were 84 arrests in the raid, including two men with criminal convictions.
According to local NBC affiliate KPLC, the Louisiana State Police and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
Boyd Gaming, which owns Delta Downs, released a statement regarding the situation: "Our company complies fully with federal labor laws, and to our knowledge, no Delta Downs team members were involved in this matter. We will cooperate with law enforcement as requested."
Hamelback told BloodHorse that the raid represented an apparent reversal by the Trump administration and said the HBPA had reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose district includes Delta Downs, and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise seeking additional information.
Hamelback said such raids are a "significant blow" to caring for horses. He added that he was told that one rider was ordered off his horse immediately and to let it go, while some horses were left on walking wheels and tied to wall ties.
"I did stress in those emails that this kind of mass exodus from a workforce causes some significant animal welfare issues," Hamelback said.
It was not immediately clear if Delta Downs would hold its Wednesday card as scheduled, with first post set for 5:15 p.m. EDT.