Over 80 illegal migrants arrested at Louisiana racetrack in ICE raid
In a joint operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and several other federal law enforcement agencies, more than 80 illegal migrants were arrested at a Louisiana racetrack on June 17th. The operation, which targeted businesses operating out of the stables at the Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, was initiated after authorities received intelligence that unauthorized workers were being employed at the location.
While the majority of the arrests were related to immigration violations, several individuals with criminal records were also identified. One such individual, Enrique Gonzalez Moreno, a 36-year-old Mexican national who had illegally entered the U.S. four times, had been convicted twice for driving under the influence and once for cocaine possession and illegal reentry.
Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of ICE HSI New Orleans stated, \”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.\”
DeLaune emphasized that worksite enforcement operations often uncover other forms of criminal conduct, such as document and benefit fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. By conducting these operations, law enforcement agencies are able to bolster public safety in the local community by eliminating criminal activity and removing dangerous individuals who are in the country illegally.
Worksite enforcement investigations focus on identifying businesses involved in hiring unauthorized workers, with the goal of reducing illegal employment and holding employers accountable. The joint operation at the Delta Downs Racetrack was carried out by ICE, Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
These arrests come amidst a week of anti-ICE protests in major cities across the U.S., with some protests turning into violent riots in areas like Los Angeles and Portland. Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sophia Compton, a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital, reported on the operation. Compton, who previously covered finance, energy, and tourism as a business reporter, has experience as a TV news producer and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2021.
