Lawsuit Alleges Civil Rights Violations During Wilder Gambling Raid

ACLU of Idaho files federal class-action lawsuit over aggressive tactics used by law enforcement during October 2025 raid in Wilder

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Months after a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people in Wilder, Idaho, the ACLU of Idaho has filed a federal class-action civil rights lawsuit alleging law enforcement used aggressive tactics and unjustly detained hundreds of people, including children. The lawsuit claims law enforcement plotted to turn a targeted execution of five arrest warrants on illegal gambling charges into a massive immigration raid, violating the civil rights of those detained.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights growing concerns over the use of aggressive tactics and racial profiling by law enforcement, particularly in immigration enforcement actions. It raises questions about the balance between public safety and civil liberties, as well as the potential for abuse of power by authorities.

The details

According to the lawsuit, around 200 law enforcement officers arrived at the scene of an alleged illegal horserace gambling operation at La Catedral Arena in Wilder on October 19, 2025, with armored trucks, flashbang grenades, and guns drawn. The lawsuit alleges officers used militarized gear, pointed guns, and screamed orders at frightened families, breaking windows of cars and throwing compliant people to the ground. Law enforcement then rounded up the entire crowd, zip-tying most of the adults and many teenagers, and ordering everyone onto the track, where they were detained for four hours without food, water, bathrooms, or medical treatment.

  • The raid took place on October 19, 2025.
  • The ACLU of Idaho filed the federal class-action lawsuit on February 10, 2026.

The players

ACLU of Idaho

A civil rights organization that filed the federal class-action lawsuit against law enforcement agencies over the Wilder raid.

Jenna Rolnick Borchetta

The ACLU's Deputy Director of Policing, who issued a statement criticizing the Trump administration's tactics and claiming the administration is "trampling our rights using racially biased tactics that make us all less safe."

Kieran Donahue

The Canyon County Sheriff, one of the law enforcement officials named in the lawsuit.

Rex Ingram

The Caldwell Police Chief, one of the law enforcement officials named in the lawsuit.

Joe Huff

The Nampa Police Chief, one of the law enforcement officials named in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“Our plaintiffs were treated as less than human because ICE and their willing partners think they can disregard fundamental rights if it gets them immigration arrests. From Wilder, to Minneapolis, to Chicago, the Trump administration is trampling our rights using racially biased tactics that make us all less safe. The administration can suggest that this abuse is immune from legal consequences, but it is not, and we intend to prove that in court.”

— Jenna Rolnick Borchetta, ACLU Deputy Director of Policing (ACLU statement)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed as a class action in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement's efforts to combat illegal activities and the need to protect the civil rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. It raises important questions about the appropriate use of force, racial profiling, and the treatment of vulnerable populations like children during law enforcement operations.