FBI Backtracks on Denying Children were Zip Tied in Idaho Raid, Now It Says No “Young Children” Were

From [HERE] Days after advocates said they witnessed children who were zip tied at a law enforcement raid on Sunday in southwest Idaho, federal law enforcement agencies denied that claim. 

At 3:34 p.m. Wednesday, Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Sandra Yi Barker told the Idaho Capital Sun in a written statement that “Reports suggesting children were zip-tied or hit with rubber bullets during the October 19 FBI-led operation in Wilder are completely false.”

But less than an hour after denying any kids were zip-tied or hit with rubber bullets at the raid, the FBI clarified that no “young” children were zip-tied or hit with rubber bullets. At 4:18 p.m., Barker released an updated statement adding “young” before the word “children.”

“Reports suggesting young children were zip-tied or hit with rubber bullets during the October 19 FBI-led operation in Wilder are completely false,” the updated statement read.

KIVI-TV first reported on the FBI’s modified statement, saying the FBI’s update came after the news outlet sent the FBI a photo reportedly of a 14-year-old U.S. citizen in zip ties. 

The FBI could not be immediately reached for comment on why it changed its statement on law enforcement’s tactics at the raid in Wilder of an alleged illegal horserace gambling operation at La Catedral Arena.

Advocates who were at the scene of the raid have denounced aggressive tactics they say they saw used, including law enforcement detaining everyone at the venue, children being zip-tied, and people being struck with rubber bullets. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it arrested 105 people on immigration violationsin the raid. The FBI announced five arrests of people linked to the alleged illegal gambling operation.

Earlier Wednesday, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue and Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram said the FBI, not ICE, led the raid. In a joint statement, they called the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s statement that gave ICE credit for the raid “completely false and a serious misrepresentation of the facts.”

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told the Idaho Capital Sun in a statement Wednesday that “ICE didn’t zip tie, restrain or arrest any children.” [MORE]