U.S. Immigration and Customs, along with the Department of Agriculture and other law enforcement agencies, carried out search warrants in southern Mississippi, leading to several arrests related to illegal immigration, bullfighting, and other crimes. This operation was part of a broader undercover investigation into illegal activities in Harrison County, Mississippi.
Among those arrested were individuals believed to be undocumented immigrants found at a makeshift animal fighting venue, which attracted both U.S. citizens and others from outside the state. Two men, Alvin Smith III and Herbert Casey Smith, face charges for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act by hosting biweekly cockfights at a property on Northup Cuevas Road, according to court documents.
Besides these two, multiple others have been charged with conspiracy for their involvement in illegal animal fighting activities. Those identified as being in the U.S. unlawfully are also facing immigration-related charges. Agents from ICE in Gulfport are actively working to identify all individuals encountered during the operation and are reviewing their immigration status, though they haven’t publicly disclosed the names of those arrested.
The investigation was led by the ICE Homeland Security Task Force and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. It included inquiries not only into animal fights and gambling but also into the presence of undocumented immigrants, drugs, and weapons. Partnering organizations involved in the operation included ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the FBI.
According to ICE, those apprehended in connection with illegal gambling and bullfighting will likely face state and federal charges as appropriate. Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Mississippi will oversee the case.
“Beyond the cruelty inflicted on animals by these operations and its encouragement by participants, such activities are often associated with more serious offenses, including money laundering and acts of violence,” stated Eric DeLane, an ICE-HSI special agent in New Orleans.
This operation is part of a broader national initiative under the Trump Administration known as Operation Takeback America, which aims to harness the Justice Department’s resources to combat illegal immigration, dismantle drug cartels and cross-border crime organizations, and safeguard communities from violent offenders.
