Federal authorities arrested more than 80 illegal aliens during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation at a Louisiana racetrack earlier this month, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE revealed that most of those arrested had criminal histories.
The joint operation, conducted on June 17 at Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, Louisiana, was part of a renewed push by federal immigration authorities to crack down on unauthorized employment.
It comes after a previous moratorium on worksite enforcement had been lifted.
ICE officials said the raid was prompted by intelligence reports indicating that businesses operating out of the racetrack’s stables were employing alien workers without legal authorization.
In a statement, Eric DeLaune, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI New Orleans, said:
“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.”
While the majority of the arrests were for immigration violations, several individuals with serious criminal records were taken into custody.
Among those arrested was 36-year-old Enrique Gonzalez Moreno.
According to ICE, Moreno had illegally reentered the United States from Mexico four times.
During that time, he was convicted twice for DUI and once for cocaine possession, in addition to an illegal reentry conviction.
ICE officials said the operation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed as investigators look into possible cases of document fraud, labor trafficking, and other federal crimes.
“Oftentimes, when we’re conducting these worksite enforcement operations, we uncover other forms of criminal conduct, such as document and benefit fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking,” DeLaune added.
“As a result, we’re able to bolster public safety in the local community by eliminating that criminal activity and removing any dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members, or other egregious immigration offenders.”
The enforcement action was carried out by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to ICE, worksite enforcement investigations are designed to reduce illegal employment and hold employers accountable for hiring individuals who lack legal authorization to work in the United States.
The raid comes on the heels of widespread anti-ICE protests, some of which have devolved into violent riots in cities like Los Angeles and Portland, following heightened federal immigration enforcement activity in urban areas.
The Biden-era pause on worksite immigration raids was recently lifted.
The pause of raids blocked law enforcement from targeting farms, hotels, and restaurants.
The lifting of the previous moratorium allows ICE and other federal partners to resume full enforcement actions.
Officials did not say whether additional raids are planned, but emphasized that businesses knowingly employing illegal workers can face significant civil and criminal penalties.
ICE said it is continuing to process the arrested individuals and will determine deportation proceedings based on the nature of their immigration violations and any additional charges.
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