ICE, joined by the FBI and Border Patrol, carried out a surprising raid at Calcasieu Parish’s Delta Downs Racetrack on Monday, arresting 84 undocumented workers. The agency said it acted on tip-offs pointing to illegal employment at the track’s stables.
This sweep comes despite a Trump administration order that asked ICE to ease off on arrests at places like farms, hotels, and restaurants due to concern about the economic fallout. Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, reportedly pushed ICE to boost daily arrests from around 650 to 3,000.
During the racetrack operation, at least two of those detained were found to have criminal records. Steven Stavinoha of Customs and Border Protection defended the crackdown, saying it helps stop illegal work rings that hurt U.S. jobs and allow exploitation in vital industries.
Boyd Gaming, the operator of Delta Downs, said in a statement that its staff followed federal labor laws and that the company wasn’t involved. They’ve promised full cooperation with authorities.
Immigrant rights organizer Rachel Taber from Unión Migrante warned that the U.S. economy relies on immigrant labor. She argued these raids only fuel division and damage everyone’s well‑being.
