Three Idaho families are suing federal and state law enforcement agencies over an aggressive immigration raid at La Catedral horse racing track last October. The lawsuit alleges unconstitutional detention tactics were used during the operation, which detained roughly 400 people, including U.S. citizens and legal residents, for hours without food, water, or bathroom access.

Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including the FBI and ICE, conducted the raid as part of an investigation into illegal gambling. However, only five people were arrested for gambling violations while over 100 others were detained on immigration suspicions. The ACLU of Idaho claims the operation was essentially a “fishing expedition for immigration violations,” targeting the local Latino community during a family-friendly event.

Detainees reported being zip-tied for hours, with some experiencing numbness and skin cuts from overly tight restraints. Children as young as 11 were restrained, and several were separated from family members. The lawsuit seeks class-action status and damages, alleging violations of federal law and constitutional rights. This case adds to a pattern of similar lawsuits challenging aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that have ensnared U.S. citizens and legal residents in other states.