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ICE and Horse Racing
Back in the 1990s, I worked on the financing for the horse track in Houston. The firm is still representing the owner of the track which is trying to get slot machines or other type of gambling. I got to visit all parts of the track including the stables. It takes a great deal of work to keep these horses in racing shape. One of my clients tried to take my kids to the area where quarter horse auctions were taking place and we stopped that.
It seems that ICE has found that horse tracks are a good place to raid/search for non-white workers to deport.
Link to tweet
When ICE arrests/detains/kidnap a non-white worker on the grounds that they might not be documented, the ICE assholes do not care about the horses
Link to tweet
It seems that some of the horse racing groups are not happy with these raids
Link to tweet
https://www.drf.com/news/national-hbpa-issues-guidance-not-allow-ice-track-property-without-warrant
The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on Wednesday issued a notice of guidance to its membership and to U.S. racetracks claiming that no agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any individual representing ICE should be allowed on the backstretch of a racetrack without an official warrant.
The notice, signed by National HBPA chief executive Eric Hamelback, was issued a little more than 24 hours after ICE agents conducted a raid of Delta Downs in Vinton, La., shutting down exits and entrances to the track while questioning backstretch workers and eventually arresting nearly 100. The notice included highly aggressive language, calling the raid “shocking and disruptive,” along with “concerning and unacceptable.”
“We must urge racetrack management and security staff not to be complicit in allowing unchecked access to the stable areas,” the notice said, calling the backstretch a "non-public, restricted-access agricultural workplace” requiring judicial warrants. “To do so could potentially violate the constitutional rights of workers and other individuals present, expose the racetrack and its operators to liability, and compromise the care and welfare of the horses in their charge.”
Hamelback could not be reached for comment early on Wednesday. In a text message in response to a phone call, Hamelback said that he was in Washington D.C. for meetings.
The notice, signed by National HBPA chief executive Eric Hamelback, was issued a little more than 24 hours after ICE agents conducted a raid of Delta Downs in Vinton, La., shutting down exits and entrances to the track while questioning backstretch workers and eventually arresting nearly 100. The notice included highly aggressive language, calling the raid “shocking and disruptive,” along with “concerning and unacceptable.”
“We must urge racetrack management and security staff not to be complicit in allowing unchecked access to the stable areas,” the notice said, calling the backstretch a "non-public, restricted-access agricultural workplace” requiring judicial warrants. “To do so could potentially violate the constitutional rights of workers and other individuals present, expose the racetrack and its operators to liability, and compromise the care and welfare of the horses in their charge.”
Hamelback could not be reached for comment early on Wednesday. In a text message in response to a phone call, Hamelback said that he was in Washington D.C. for meetings.
Unfortunately, the client who used to take us on tours of the facility passed away a while back. I am curious to see if the Houston track is having issues.