Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel in Vinton, Louisiana, whose owners were once considered business rivals of President Donald Trump.
The Delta Downs racetrack is owned and operated by Nevada-based Boyd Gaming. The Nevada-based gaming and hospitality company rivaled Trump’s casinos before he became president.
The raid is a continuation the Trump administration’s efforts for mass deportation. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has pushed ICE to issue at least 3,000 arrests per day.
In a statement regarding the operation, ICE announced the arrest of approximately 84 illegal immigrants, noting that at least two had a criminal history.
“The operation was conducted after authorities received intelligence indicating that the businesses operating out of the stables at the racetrack were employing unauthorized workers. Those suspicions were further confirmed during a subsequent site visit,” read the statement.
ICE added the operation was “focused on the businesses that own and race thoroughbred and quarter horses out of the stables at the racetrack and the employees who work for them and take care of the horses.”
Trump has sought to execute mass deportation efforts by removing millions of migrants without legal status.
The raid at Delta Downs follows Trump going back on his exemption of workers in agricultural and hospitality businesses from ICE actions. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned that targeting such business would cause “severe disruptions to our food supply would harm Americans.”
The American Business Immigration Coalition estimates that Trump’s deportation goals could could decrease agricultural production by $30 billion to $60 billion.
Boyd Gaming claimed they had no knowledge of employing undocumented workers in a statement following the raid.
“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,” said the company’s spokesperson David Strow.
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