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Private properties hosting racetracks in the United States advised to deny entry to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant

Racetracks across the U.S. urged to block ICE access without a warrant, following a raid at Delta Downs targeting undocumented backstretch workers.

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Race Tracks in the U.S. Instructed to Deny ICE Agents Entry Without a Search Warrant
Race Tracks in the U.S. Instructed to Deny ICE Agents Entry Without a Search Warrant

Private properties hosting racetracks in the United States advised to deny entry to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant

Posted: June 20, 2025, 12:03h.

Last updated: June 20, 2025, 01:38h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc - Read More Gaming Business - Regulation - Tribal Gaming

  • ICE swoops on Delta Downs, corrals more than workers
  • HBPA fights for Fourth Amendment rights to bar warrant-less ICE raids
  • Fear of labor turmoil in horse racing industry with immigration crackdown

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) is rallying racetracks nationwide to stonewall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents unless they thrust a warrant under their nose.

Following an ICE swoop at Delta Downs Racetrack in Vinton, La., on Tuesday, more than 80 undocumented stable workers were swiped off their feet.

No Pass, No Access

The bust stirred the racing scene due to its historic reliance on immigrant muscle to churn out sweat and grind out low-paying, laughably demanding jobs in the auxiliary yards. If similar busts invaded turf across the country, live horse racing would be left hairless and begging.

"Racetrack security, gatekeepers, and facility mandarins must keep ICE agents at bay without a signed judicial warrant," declared the HBPA proclamation.

If ICE marshals pester for access sans said warrant, they're to be treated like toadying fans aiming for backstage passes—nicely rebuffed with a we're-not-taking-requests response.

The HBPA reminded racetracks that the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution is a four-letter word for law enforcement snooping around without judicial clearance.

Many stablehands aren't directly employed by the track but by trainers, owners, or contractors and frequently live on the premises. Many have H-2B visas and navigate the system, but it can be a costly, lengthy hurdle to surmount.

Are Racetracks Off-Limits?

Delta Downs was the first major immigration raid at a US racetrack since the present administration moved into the White House in January. There had been hope that state-licensed facilities like racetracks would escape the workplace raids that characterized President Trump's second term.

In a post on Truth Social on June 12, the president seemed to concede the need to safeguard industries dependent on a labor force slogging away at jobs most Americans won't touch.

"Our farmers and those in the hotel and leisure business clamor that our overzealous immigration policy is snatching up long-term, hard-working employees from them, jobs nearly impossible to fill," Trump penned.

"We must protect our farmers, but kick out the criminals from the USA. Changes are coming!" he added.

ICE declared in a statement on Wednesday that out of the 84 individuals ensnared at Delta Downs, a mere two had criminal records.

'Delta was a whole different kettle of fish'

Tom Rooney, the president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), a lobbying body for the racing industry, informed the Daily Racing Form that several NTRA members reported ICE agents waltzing through tracks, sniffing out specific individuals, and the tracks granting them entry. However, the Delta roundup was a different breed.

"What I gather is that they claimed they were after specific people, then it morphed into a dragnet," Rooney divulged.

  1. The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) is urging racetracks across the nation to deny access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a signed judicial warrant, following an ICE swoop at Delta Downs Racetrack.
  2. In the aftermath of the ICE raid at Delta Downs, more than 80 undocumented stable workers were detained, sparking concerns about potential labor unrest in the horse racing industry.
  3. The HBPA declared that ICE agents should be treated like fans seeking backstage passes if they attempt to access racetracks without a judicial warrant, citing the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.
  4. Many stablehands at racetracks are not directly employed by the track but by trainers, owners, or contractors and often live on the premises, with many holding H-2B visas.
  5. Delta Downs was the first major immigration raid at a US racetrack since the current administration took office, contradicting expectations that state-licensed facilities like racetracks would be spared from workplace raids.
  6. President Trump, in a post on Truth Social on June 12, acknowledged the need to safeguard industries reliant on a labor force performing jobs most Americans won't touch, hinting at potential changes in immigration policy regarding these industries.

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