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Delta Downs Horse Track Raided by Immigration ICE

Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:46 pm
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
18919 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:46 pm


quote:

LAKE CHARLES – Police sources report federal, state and local law enforcement took part in an immigration raid Tuesday morning at Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel near Vinton.

Vinton Police Chief Scott Spell confirmed his department was notified Tuesday morning of an operation being conducted by Louisiana State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Spell said Vinton Police were not involved in the operation, as Delta Downs is not within city limits.

ICE has not responded to questions about Tuesday morning’s raid or disclosed the number of individuals questioned, detained or arrested.


https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/very-concerning-ice-locks-down-delta-downs-for-immigration-raid

quote:

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has been put under lockdown as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts a raid of the backstretch to find undocumented workers, Daily Racing Form reports.

DRF's Matt Hegarty spoke to multiple sources with knowledge of the event, reporting that ICE agents arrived at the track in mid-morning, closed the exits to the backstretch, and shut down roads around the property. According to Thoroughbred Daily News, drones were used during the sweep.


quote:

Delta Downs is in the midst of a Quarter Horse meet, but Tuesday was a dark day for live racing.

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said multiple backstretch workers were "apprehended" in the raid.

“This is very concerning,” Hamelback told DRF. “Very concerning.”

Through second-hand reports of what happened Tuesday morning, Hamelback told Thoroughbred Daily News that law enforcement paid little regard to the welfare of the horses throughout the process. He was told horses were left unattended on wall ties and hotwalking machines; potentially vulnerable positions if left for too long.

“I was told of one rider that was told to get off the horse and let it go,” Hamelback told TDN. “[The] lack of concern for equine wellbeing is also a major concern.”




This post was edited on 6/17/25 at 3:52 pm
Posted by pbro62
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2016
15148 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:48 pm to
Mexican horses?
Posted by Deep Purple Haze
LA
Member since Jun 2007
67347 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:49 pm to
evd next

Posted by AllDayEveryDay
Nawf Tejas
Member since Jun 2015
9084 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:54 pm to
Got a friend that is big into horse racing. Currently running 5 on the track or in training. They've won 6 figures in the past and have that horse studding. It's not uncommon for the cartels to pay them 20-40k in cash for a horse they use to garner illegal bets during "test races".
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
47065 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:55 pm to
I cant speak to who is illegal and who isnt, but QH season the majority of people working and attending races are hispanic. ID say 80% or more. TB is a little lower, like 40-50% hispanic. but people doing the actual work with the horses are almost exclusively hispanic. TB the majority of trainers are white.. but QH they are hispanic alot of times.
Posted by yaboidarrell
westbank
Member since Feb 2017
6279 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:10 pm to
Well, plenty of short Cajuns available to replace the Mexican midgets
Posted by couv1217
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2007
3522 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:20 pm to
So we are taking out people who are working an honest job? Of a known violent criminal was there working…ok…I get it but if not, why do we care? You think people of (insert whatever race you want) NOT working really want to be working and are going to take over those jobs? Come on now.
Posted by RaginRampage
Detroit Lions Fan
Member since Feb 2018
270 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:28 pm to
I wonder if this is related to the jockey that was arrested there 2 weeks ago? Maybe tipped them off for lesser charge?
Posted by slidingstop
Member since Jan 2025
1609 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:29 pm to
quote:

Through second-hand reports of what happened Tuesday morning, Hamelback told Thoroughbred Daily News that law enforcement paid little regard to the welfare of the horses throughout the process. He was told horses were left unattended on wall ties and hotwalking machines; potentially vulnerable positions if left for too long.


Cry me a fricking river Eric. Horses stand tied to walls, posts, and on hotwalkers all the time for hours. They also get left on hotwalkers for extended periods of time. This is the weakest shite I've read in a while. Tell the trainer who hired the illegal workers to tend to his horses. Or hire legal workers and you wont have anything to worry about.
Posted by stout
Porte du Lafitte
Member since Sep 2006
178909 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:30 pm to
quote:


So we are taking out people who are working an honest job?



Working or not they drain resources meant for Americans then they send a lot of money back home instead of circulating it back into the local economy

Imagine how much cheaper rent will be for those who rent. I say this as someone who owns rentals too.
Posted by dallastigers
Member since Dec 2003
9300 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:34 pm to
quote:

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said multiple backstretch workers were "apprehended" in the raid.

“This is very concerning,” Hamelback told DRF. “Very concerning.”


Yes it is, and it’s due to the industry’s hiring practices not illegals being arrested.
This post was edited on 6/17/25 at 6:02 pm
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
18919 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:36 pm to
quote:

they send a lot of money back home instead of circulating it back into the local economy


Same with people from China, India, and the Middle East.
The Middle East wouldn't be nearly as wealthy if we didn't send them money every time we drop $100+ to fill up the tank on our F250's over the past 50 years.


Posted by slidingstop
Member since Jan 2025
1609 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:36 pm to
He's only concerned because without ethe backside workers, you put the meet at risk. I get his "concerns", but hire legal workers and this isn't an issue.
Posted by CenlaLowell
Alexandria, la
Member since Apr 2016
1213 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:39 pm to
What's concerning is there hiring illegals in the first place
Posted by Bow08tie
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2011
4512 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:42 pm to
The last report heard regarding total money amount being sent back home per year is estimated to be roughly 45 billion.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
104062 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:43 pm to
Ain't no Americans willing to sleep in the barn and start their day at 4 in the morning.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
18919 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:48 pm to
quote:

The last report heard regarding total money amount being sent back home per year is estimated to be roughly 45 billion.


I knew a guy from San Luis, Mexico who was up here on a H2 work visa. He sent almost all his money back home. He put 3 kids through private school and college. As soon as they graduated, he packed up and moved back home to Mexico.
Posted by dgnx6
Member since Feb 2006
85094 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 4:51 pm to
hell yeah, I voted for this!


Posted by duckblind56
South of Ellick
Member since Sep 2023
4212 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 5:26 pm to
quote:

why do we care?


Stop and seriously think about it for a few minutes.
Posted by Klark Kent
Houston via BR
Member since Jan 2008
72700 posts
Posted on 6/17/25 at 5:31 pm to
quote:

The last report heard regarding total money amount being sent back home per year is estimated to be roughly 45 billion.


Remittances is estimated to be 3-4% of Mexico’s GDP.

…and that’s just the remittances aspect, the impact to the American taxpayer is significantly more and growing…

fairus.org: The Financial Burden of Illegal Immigration

since I doubt you’ll take the time to open the link, I’ll borrow the figures fairus.org uses to summarize:

Total Government Expenditures on Illegal Aliens:

Total Federal Expenditures: $66,449,136,000
+ Total State Expenditures: $115,608,730,000
= $182,057,865,000

Total Tax Contributions from Illegal Aliens:
Total Federal Taxes Paid: $16,219,495,000
+ Total State Taxes Paid: $15,172,140,000
= $31,391,635,000

So, Total Tax Burden of Illegal Aliens:
$182,057,865, 000 total expenditures on illegal aliens
- $31,391,635,000 total tax contributions from illegal aliens
= $150,666,230,000

$150 billion dollars in 2023.

And that’s 2023. Estimates are that Biden let in another 3-5 million illegal aliens in 2024. This problem will only continue to snowball. And that’s just the economics. Seriously, consider what you are saddling the next generations of Americans with by just throwing your hands up, and saying, “our blueberry prices and sheetrock installation are gonna skyrocket”. It’s a lazy and ignorant argument proving you either have an ulterior motive to support illegal immigration or you’re brainwashed.

Not to mention the impact on our medical industry, impact on housing availability, impact on public schools, etc. Not to mention the vast vast majority of these people despise us, our culture, and our history. They have no intention to integrate into our society. They only want to take and stick their hands out for tax payer funded assistance.


eta: i hope this answers the “why do you care” question by the disingenuous poster you replied to. Feel free to jump in and rebuttal what I’ve presented OT Moderates
This post was edited on 6/17/25 at 5:43 pm
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