A mid-June ICE raid at Louisiana’s Delta Downs Racetrack, resulting in over 80 arrests, highlighted the ongoing challenges racetracks face with staffing and immigration enforcement. Panelists at the Saratoga Racing and Gaming Conference emphasized that racetrack operators must prepare for inevitable ICE visits, as the industry heavily relies on immigrant labor for demanding, low-wage jobs that many American workers avoid. Experts noted that the common belief that foreign workers are hired solely for cheap labor is false; in fact, many foreign workers are paid more, and there is a significant shortage of willing American workers for these tough roles.

The panel also discussed the critical role of the H-2B visa program, which allows seasonal non-agricultural workers to be legally employed, though the program is severely limited and highly competitive. The high costs and complex compliance requirements of the visa program lead some smaller tracks to employ undocumented workers, risking severe penalties and operational disruptions. Industry veterans warned that without immigrant labor and the H-2B program, many racetracks could struggle to survive, with immigration enforcement crackdowns posing a growing threat to the industry’s workforce stability.