According to WLOX, several people were arrested for illegal cockfighting and gambling in Harrison County in the Lizana Community.
The incident happened Saturday when Homeland Security agents raided a farm.
ICE Homeland Security led the investigation along with Border Enforcement Security Task Force.
WLOX reported that more than two dozen people were gathered in a barn that had an arena lined with plexiglass. It also had rows of seats for an audience.
Homeland Security told WLOX that there were hundreds of chickens at the farm. There were some used for fighting that were equipped with sharp-bladed spurs.
20 people were arrested on different charges. Officials told WLOX some of those in custody were identified as being in the country illegally.
ICE Gulfport special agents and deportation officers are in the process of identifying all encountered individuals, as well as checking immigration records.
“Cockfighting is a barbaric form of animal abuse, and the United States should exhibit no tolerance for it,” said Pacelle. “Mississippi has been a hotspot for illegal animal fighting, and it’s past due for the federal government to take action to enforce our national law forbidding all activities associated with staged battles between animals.“Never do we see a cockfight where animal cruelty is the only crime,” he added. Illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, illegal immigration, and money laundering are comingled with this barbarism, and it’s time to shut down all of the trafficking of fighting birds and the fights themselves.”
