How 2025 Immigration Crackdowns Threaten U.S. Horse Racing Labor

June 2025 ICE actions at Delta Downs arrested over 80 workers amid H-2B caps reached by March, creating nationwide staffing shortfalls. Trainers face disrupted schedules, increased costs, and safety risks. Industry groups recommend early H-2B petitions, written on-site response plans, and advocacy for expanded, predictable visa pathways to stabilize operations.

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Key takeaways
June 2025 Delta Downs raid arrested more than 80 workers, causing immediate staffing shortages on backstretch operations.
H-2B visa program hit its 2025 cap by March, blocking seasonal non-agricultural hires for the year.
Industry generated about $36 billion in 2023; National HBPA represents 29,000 owners and trainers dependent on immigrant labor.

(LOUISIANA) Immigration crackdowns in 2025 have pushed U.S. horse racing into a labor crisis, with ICE raids hitting key backstretch hubs and visa caps shutting out needed workers. In mid-June, a major operation at Delta Downs Racetrack led to the arrest of more than 80 workers, triggering an immediate staffing shortage and forcing quick changes to daily care, training, and race-day operations. Industry leaders say the fallout is spreading to other tracks and could intensify through the fall season unless policy relief arrives.

The situation dominated hallway talk at the Saratoga Racing and Gaming Conference in August, where panelists warned that racetrack operators should plan now for more enforcement actions this year. Trainers and owners describe crews stretched thin and anxious, with immigrant workers—many from Mexico and Central America—fearing detention and deportation.

How 2025 Immigration Crackdowns Threaten U.S. Horse Racing Labor
How 2025 Immigration Crackdowns Threaten U.S. Horse Racing Labor

“I don’t know how horse racing could survive without immigrant workers,” said Dale Romans, president of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA, called immigrant workers “the backbone of the industry.”

The stakes are high. The industry generated about $36 billion in 2023, and each major track typically needs hundreds of backstretch workers to handle horses safely. The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association represents 29,000 thoroughbred racehorse owners and trainers, nearly all dependent on this labor pipeline. When that pipeline narrows, horses still need to be fed, walked, and galloped—every single day.

Raids at Delta Downs trigger nationwide alarm

The June operation at Delta Downs Racetrack in Louisiana left barns scrambling. Grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders were suddenly missing from morning rounds, and managers had to reshuffle tasks just to cover basic care.

Peter Ecabert, general counsel for the National HBPA, criticized the enforcement approach for leaving facilities “stranded and without workers” after raids. Panelists at Saratoga urged tracks to:

  • Have written response plans,
  • Designate points of contact, and
  • Train supervisors on how to manage on-site inspections.

Trainers describe pressure from two sides: an immediate need to keep horses safe and a growing legal burden to keep paperwork perfect. Losing seasoned hands can:

  1. Force changes to training plans.
  2. Delay races.
  3. Shorten race cards.

Some tracks have reduced schedules or brought in inexperienced staff who need time to learn a dangerous job, which raises clear safety risks for both horses and people. Employers also face rising costs as they:

  • Pay overtime to the few workers left,
  • Hire lawyers to advise on compliance, and
  • Search for replacement staff in a tight market.

Workers feel the squeeze just as sharply. Many live in fear of surprise checks at the barn or on the way to work. Advocates say most are long-term residents with deep ties to local communities. After the raid in Louisiana, attendance fell at some barns as people weighed the risk of showing up against the risk of losing the only paycheck their families rely on.

Visa caps squeeze a seasonal workforce

The labor pipeline was already thin before the raids. The H-2B program, which allows employers to bring non-agricultural seasonal workers to the United States, hit its 2025 limit by March. That left many barns without a legal route to hire essential staff for the rest of the year.

Trainers also face an annual cycle of paperwork with no guarantee of approval, making long-term planning close to impossible. A large share of the backstretch workforce is undocumented, which heightens the risk of future arrests and disruptions.

USCIS explains program basics, cap rules, and employer steps on its official H-2B page: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2b-non-agricultural-workers. Employers seeking H-2B workers typically:

  1. File a temporary labor certification with the Department of Labor using Form ETA-9142B (link: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/ETA-9142B.pdf).
  2. Then submit a petition to USCIS using Form I-129 (link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129).

Panelists and attorneys advise barns to submit as early as possible and to track cap movements closely, especially in high-demand months.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combination of strict caps and stepped-up enforcement has forced racetracks to rethink staffing models mid-season, with many bracing for more inspections and worker checks as the year continues. Industry leaders are lobbying Congress and the White House for more predictable visa numbers and clearer paths to legal status for long-time workers, but no major policy changes had been enacted as of August 2025.

For now, track operators are told to plan for more ICE activity and to expect schedule adjustments when crews run short. The fall season will proceed with workers who already hold valid visas, but trainers say they’re already looking ahead with worry. Applications for 2026 will need to start early, and even then, there’s no promise of approval. The repeated cycle—file early, wait, hope—adds cost and stress to an industry where horses must be cared for every day.

Owners add that they can’t move horses freely between states or tracks if they don’t know which barns have enough trained staff to care for them.

Practical steps tracks can take now

Faced with ongoing pressure, trade groups are sharing practical steps barns can take to reduce risk and keep operations steady:

  • Maintain complete worker files on-site:
    • Copies of visas, IDs, and work authorization for every employee
    • Regular updates and audits
  • Draft written protocols for visits by ICE or other officials:
    • Who speaks to agents
    • Where records are kept
    • How to reach legal counsel
  • Apply as early as allowed for H-2B visas:
    • Track the cap closely
    • Keep proof of recruitment and job need organized for audits
  • Join coalitions pushing for expanded visas and paths to legal status

Some owners and trainers argue that the current system is not built for a year-round, horse-first operation. They point to daily care needs—feeding, grooming, wrapping, cooling out—as proof that this work is both skilled and constant. Critics of workplace raids add that surprise actions can hurt horse welfare when crews vanish overnight.

Supporters of strong enforcement respond that the law must be followed and that employers should not rely on undocumented labor. The debate is real, but the practical problem remains: horses still need hands on them morning and night.

Outreach, compliance, and the short-term outlook

The American Horse Council and the National HBPA have stepped up outreach to help barns understand what documents to keep and how to plan for unannounced checks. Lawyers remind employers that even honest paperwork mistakes can slow hiring or draw penalties, so it’s wise to audit files now rather than during a crisis.

Barn managers say the message is landing, but they need workers as much as they need compliance checklists. For the moment, the industry is trying to hold steady:

  • Files are thicker.
  • Costs are higher.
  • Barns are quieter after the Delta Downs arrests.

Trainers say they can adjust a race plan, but they can’t skip feeding or stall care. Without more visas—or a broader policy fix—the gap between what the horses need and the people available to do the work will likely grow.

The warning from Saratoga was clear: prepare for more checks, keep records tight, and expect more sudden changes as immigration crackdowns continue across the backstretch.

VisaVerge.com
Learn Today
Backstretch → Stable area where grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders perform daily horse care and training tasks.
H-2B program → Temporary non-agricultural worker visa allowing seasonal employers to hire foreign labor subject to annual numeric caps.
Form ETA-9142B → Department of Labor form used to request temporary labor certification for H-2B non-agricultural workers.
Form I-129 → USCIS petition employers submit to request approval for a temporary worker visa, including H-2B petitions.
ICE raid → Enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that can detain undocumented workers at worksites.

This Article in a Nutshell

June 2025 Delta Downs raids arrested over 80 workers, triggering a national horse-racing labor crisis. H-2B caps by March left barns without legal seasonal hires. Trainers face safety risks, higher costs, and disrupted race schedules. Industry urges earlier petitions, written response plans, and lobbying for predictable visas to protect horses.

— VisaVerge.com
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Jim Grey
Senior Editor
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Jim Grey serves as the Senior Editor at VisaVerge.com, where his expertise in editorial strategy and content management shines. With a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of the immigration and travel sectors, Jim plays a pivotal role in refining and enhancing the website's content. His guidance ensures that each piece is informative, engaging, and aligns with the highest journalistic standards.
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