FBI operation in Idaho includes allegations of detaining, zip-tying children
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A Federal Bureau of Investigation-led raid in southwest Idaho last weekend continues to raise questions about tactics used, which included allegations of detaining and zip-tying families.
About 200 local, state and federal law enforcement agents were involved in an operation in Wilder to break up illegal horse race gambling. Four people were arrested by the FBI at the event, and another on Monday. The harsh tactics law enforcement used drew criticism, including the deployment of helicopters, drones and rubber bullets.
Rebecca De León, communications director for the ACLU of Idaho, said her organization received live updates as the raid unfolded. She noted about 400 people had gathered for a horse racing event, billed as family-friendly.
"They detained absolutely everybody, and that included children," De León pointed out. "We saw quite young children, maybe 10 years old or a little younger, who were zip tied. We have evidence of bruises on their wrists from being zip tied, and we think that there's absolutely zero justification for that."
The agency countered reports "suggesting young children were zip-tied or hit with rubber bullets" are false.
Immigration Customs Enforcement was also at the raid and detained more than 100 people, including parents of children at the event. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement ICE was part of operations "dismantling criminal networks in the United States."
De León argued the violent raid only served to traumatize families.
"It was the harshest and most terrorizing, harmful way to go about initiating justice against just a few people who were doing some allegedly illegal gambling," De León contended. "That is a nonviolent crime and there were so many agents that showed up heavily armed and they terrorized all of the families involved."
De León added families in the area are now afraid to leave their homes because for fear of being detained. She stressed mutual aid organizations have been supporting the people impacted and those who want to help can find out how to donate through the ACLU of Idaho.
"We had so many wonderful people come together and they're just like, 'How can I help? What can I do? I will do whatever needs to be done,'" De León observed. "We've had people working late into the night, extremely early hours, and so it really does warm my heart to see that the community in Idaho cares."
