What began as a calm afternoon quickly spiraled into panic for a young mother tending to her baby in the parking lot of a horse track near Wilder, Idaho.
As she glanced outside her car, she noticed spectators who had been peacefully watching the race suddenly running into the surrounding fields. Moments later, the unmistakable sound of helicopters thundered above.
A Massive Law Enforcement Operation Unfolds
Stepping out of her vehicle, she witnessed patrol cars, SUVs, and heavily armed officers rushing into the property. The track, a popular gathering place for the Hispanic community, had become the center of a major enforcement operation on Oct. 19 involving more than 200 federal and local officers.
Although she and her four siblings are U.S. citizens, fear overwhelmed her as she realized their immigrant father was elsewhere inside the facility.
“Oh my God, my dad,” she recalled thinking. “He’s not coming home with us today.”
Unfortunately, she was right.
Detention and Legal Battle
Her father was among more than 100 individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Idaho reports. He is currently being held at the Sweetwater County Detention Center after spending weeks in the Uinta County jail.
Arguing that his detention violates the Constitution, his attorney has requested that a federal judge either release him or grant him a bond hearing. His family relies on him financially and emotionally, making his absence deeply painful.
The case, heard in federal court in Casper, highlights how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement extends deep into Wyoming, even when incidents occur far outside the state.
No Criminal Record, No Allegations
According to his attorney, the man has lived in the U.S. for 20 years without returning to Mexico and has no U.S. criminal history. Yet the government is pushing for his continued detention with no clear justification of danger or flight risk.
Despite federal claims of prioritizing “the worst of the worst,” data shows that over 70% of Trump-era ICE detainees had no criminal convictions. This man appears to fall into that majority.
Why Local Jails Are Housing ICE Detainees
Earlier in the year, Uinta County Sheriff Andy Kopp announced plans to house ICE detainees as a way to boost revenue amid budget cuts. He stated publicly that the facility would only hold individuals with criminal records for brief periods.
However, the family argues this was not the case—they say their father was swept up in a broad raid and detained despite decades of law-abiding life.
Kopp has declined to comment further but acknowledged the man’s transfer to Sweetwater County.
Legal Complications and Concerns
The judge has temporarily barred ICE from relocating the detainee out of Wyoming while reviewing the case. His attorney fears that moving him between facilities—an increasingly common practice—would hinder family contact and legal access.
The defense also urged the judge to keep the bond decision in federal court rather than immigration court, citing concerns that immigration judges, who operate under the executive branch, often disregard protections meant to prevent long-term detention.
The judge questioned this request but acknowledged the example cited by the defense involving alleged noncompliance by immigration judges in Washington state.
Government’s Argument
A federal prosecutor agreed that the man had no criminal record but attempted to cast doubt on his character, accusing him of taking minors to an “illegal gambling operation.” The daughter, however, described the event simply as a social gathering centered around horse racing.
A Controversial and Painful Operation
Federal officials say ICE assisted the FBI in a crackdown on illegal betting. While the race itself was licensed, agents carried out the operation on the final day of the 2025 racing season.
More than 400 people were initially detained, and 105 were arrested for immigration violations. The raid has since drawn criticism for its handling of minors, use of force, and targeting of an event with a large immigrant presence.
The woman and her siblings—ages 15 and 11—were handcuffed with tight zip ties for nearly four hours. Despite early FBI claims denying the restraint of children, photos later proved otherwise. The family saw their father only through the plastic window of a temporary holding tent, where he wore a red wristband marking him for detention.
Emotional Toll on the Family
Being separated from their father has taken a severe emotional toll, especially on the younger children. The daughter described her 11-year-old crying quietly into a pillow, too embarrassed to be seen. The trauma of the raid continues to haunt them as they wait for answers.
This case illustrates the deep human impact of aggressive immigration enforcement, especially on families who have spent decades building stable lives in the United States.
For one Idaho family, a routine day at the races became a life-altering event. As their father awaits a decision in Wyoming, his children struggle with fear, confusion, and heartbreak—hoping the court will allow him to return home.
