Tensions are running high at Kentucky racetracks as trainers fear immigration raids like the one that swept through Louisiana, threatening a workforce that is overwhelmingly made up of migrant laborers.
The concern stems from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that reportedly detained dozens of workers at a Louisiana racetrack. The sweep sent shockwaves through the tight-knit thoroughbred racing community, especially in Kentucky, where nearly 70% of backstretch labor is done by immigrants, many of whom may be undocumented or lack long-term work visas.
