Federal agents arrested 60 individuals, including 55 illegal aliens, during a major cockfighting operation in Blount County, Alabama, Saturday, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The raid was part of a broader federal crackdown on illegal immigration and organized crime under Operation Take Back America.
The multiagency raid targeted illegal gambling, animal fighting, and immigration violations. Agencies involved included Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, IRS, ATF, and Alabama state law enforcement. The raid yielded over $100,000 in cash and two firearms. ICE stated that four of the arrested illegal aliens had previously been deported and returned unlawfully.
Five American citizens face pending federal indictments as organizers of the criminal enterprise. According to HSI Special Agent Steven N. Schrank, the operation was tied to a wider network involving drug trafficking and violent offenses. He emphasized the threat these criminal organizations pose to public safety and praised the effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration.
The raid reflects ICE’s increased activity following directives by President Donald Trump to expand deportations. Reports indicate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has initiated over 26,000 deportation cases in 2025, many involving migrants who entered under the Biden administration.
This operation builds on prior ICE activity, including a March raid in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where 31 illegal aliens were arrested at another cockfighting ring. A May operation in Mississippi also resulted in multiple arrests tied to illegal immigration and animal fighting.
ICE emphasized that these raids target more than animal cruelty; they strike at deeply entrenched criminal networks that exploit America’s borders and laws. The case will be prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama.
