Three Idaho families, all U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, are suing after being detained for hours during a large immigration raid at a rural horse racing track popular with local Latino families. The raid, involving multiple law enforcement agencies including ICE and the FBI, targeted illegal gambling but resulted in over 100 arrests for immigration violations. The families allege unconstitutional tactics such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, detaining people in zip ties without basic necessities, and separating children from family members. They claim the operation was a “fishing expedition” for immigration violations rather than a focused criminal investigation.

The lawsuit accuses state and federal agencies of conspiring to violate civil rights under the Fourth and 14th Amendments and federal civil rights laws, seeking class-action status and damages. The ACLU of Idaho highlights evidence of racial targeting and mistreatment of Latino detainees compared to white detainees. The case reflects broader national concerns about immigration enforcement tactics, with mixed judicial responses to similar lawsuits. Plaintiffs want a federal judge to declare the agencies’ actions unlawful and hold them accountable for the harm caused to innocent families.