Large-Scale Immigration Raid Hits Delta Downs Racetrack in Louisiana

Federal and state authorities launched a coordinated immigration enforcement operation Tuesday morning at Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino, and Hotel in southwest Louisiana. This action stands as one of the biggest of its kind in the area this year.

Immigration Raid Shuts Down Racetrack Backstretch and Causes Concerns Over Horse Safety

Several agencies took part in the early morning sweep, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police, and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials alerted Vinton Police about the activity, but they did not join in because the facility sits outside the town’s boundaries.

Based on information from multiple insiders with knowledge of the event, law enforcement blocked off the racecourse premises before 8 a.m., reported the Louisiana Illuminator. They shut down nearby freeways and limited entry to and exit from the site. Reports suggest they used drones as part of the search, which targeted the backstretch zone, the area where stable employees and support personnel work when races are in season.

Law enforcement officials have not shared exact numbers on how many people they arrested. However, Eric Hamelback, who runs the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said “several dozen” people ended up in custody. He also expressed concerns about the horses’ well-being, mentioning stories of horses left alone when everything stopped. In one case, someone told a rider to get off and leave a moving horse.

Boyd Gaming Issues Statement After Detentions at Vinton Racetrack

Ed Fenasci, who’s in charge of the Louisiana HBPA, backed up claims that staff could not get in during this operation. He described what happened as a total shutdown of the whole place.

Delta Downs continues its Quarter Horse racing season after finishing its Thoroughbred meet earlier this year. Boyd Gaming Corporation runs the facility. On June 17, company spokesperson David Strow released a statement. He stressed that the company follows all federal labor laws. He also said that as far as they know, the investigation did not involve any employees.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office said that fewer than 10 deputies were there to help with logistics. The agency made it clear that they do not enforce immigration laws.

However, they do help federal partners when public safety requires it. This raid is part of a series of similar crackdowns on industries that employ many immigrants, including a March sweep at the Port of Lake Charles. Rights groups have voiced worries about how these operations affect labor-heavy fields like horse racing and farming.