Lawsuit Filed After Law Enforcement Operation during Idaho Event

A lawsuit has been initiated on behalf of Latino citizens and lawful permanent residents who were detained in an Idaho operation last October engaging federal, state, and local authorities.

The class action complaint suggests that around 400 attendees were at La Catedral Racetrack enjoying activities like horse racing and food vendors when their gathering was disrupted. This occurred as an overwhelming force of approximately 200 law enforcement personnel, including those from various agencies, arrived with armored vehicles, flash-bang grenades, and weapons drawn.

The complaint details the violent response: officers in military gear pointed firearms at frightened families, yelling orders while smashing car windows, sending glass falling on those inside, including children seeking shelter from rain. There were allegations of officers throwing people to the ground and using rubber bullets over the heads of teenagers.

Typically, most adults and many teenagers were restrained using zip ties according to the filings.

The complaint also claims that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents interrogated individuals about their immigration status, with no one being released until their legal presence in the U.S. was confirmed.

The plaintiffs include parents and children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and many were released only after their legal statuses were verified during this incident.

One American involved, Juana Rodriguez, described the experience as a “nightmare” according to reports from the American Civil Liberties Union. She stated, “What happened turned into a nightmare… My toddler witnessed unbelievable violence against loved ones and was forced to hear racial slurs against Latinos. This is an absolute nightmare for a child. It’s an experience that shouldn’t have happened.” She also shared how heartbreaking it was to hear her child begging for food and water during the ordeal.

Another plaintiff emphasized, “I am a proud American citizen and I did nothing wrong… While nothing can undo the harm of that day, I joined this lawsuit because I know what happened to me was wrong, and no family should ever be treated the same way again.”

In response to inquiries about the operation, Fox News Digital reached out to various officials, including the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Justice Department, and FBI. A statement from the FBI clarified that reports suggesting children were tied up with zip ties or shot with rubber bullets during the operation on October 19 were labeled as “completely false.”

The incident, which involved a federal search warrant targeting illegal gambling activity, saw around 200 law enforcement personnel carry out operations in Wilder, Idaho.