Depends on the state, I believe.
However, in FL, it’s considered a crime to employ undocumented workers, which is partially why so many barns and the horse shows are so protective of the questionable status. They don’t want to see any negative outcomes for their loyal professionals or the staff that they bring with them.
Furthermore, folks, it goes beyond the barns. I can tell you from experience that there are plenty in the horse show industry, as well, all operating on questionable status. Meaning that if someone was going to scrutinize the paperwork, it would not turn up with many being here on a verfied basis.
People that you see and thank for their work. People that keep our industry moving and operating. So be careful about complely trashing the “undocumented” or “illegals”, bc it is truly these individuals that are the fabric of our industry and if there was a complete reckoning, would result in the whole industry crashing and burning. There are not enough skilled workers and people willing to work hourly for that little pay and those long hours. These people aren’t our enemies, and in many circumstances, they are our friends and colleagues that we rely on to keep the equestrian industry running and operating on such a heavy and demanding basis.
Additionally, if you keep supporting what the government is doing, then it’s going to collapse this industry anyway. Even if they have been granted green cards or visas, lots of those items are being revoked, or their family has not fully gone through the process. The options are very slim and in a lot of cases, it will result in them running for the border to not have to go to a deportation center or risk their wives and children being separated from them or sent there. It’s getting ugly and these are good people that are scared.
We’ve done what we can to try to be allies in our small community. We support immigrant-owned businesses and we’re defensive when it comes to protecting the good people that poured their hearts into making my horse shows a better experience, staying up late nights to trade shifts to walk colicky horses, stayed overnight in stalls when horses were evacuated for hurricanes, and have kept my animals safe and turned out properly when it comes to competitive days.
I’m sad and disappointed that so many in this forum (and in this country overall) cannot see the value and good in these people and just see how they may or may not have entered this country, and believe the narrative rather than learning their stories.
The Chronicle picked an interesting trainer to interview for that article.
Have you had any contact, at all, with USCIS in order to understand the extraordinary expense and red tape/delays involved in even the most simple immigration matter?
I am an attorney, and I have done pro bono work in the immigration space for the past 7 years. The fees that immigrants must pay to the US government, and the attorneys fees that are unnecessarily high because of USCIS’s inefficiency, are staggering. As in, the vast majority of Americans could never come close to affording that kind of legal spend.
It is not as easy a process as you would like to believe it is, even with unlimited funds.
Without any local knowledge or context whatsoever, I wondered about that myself.
In particular, this quote from him caught my eye.
If they could lose 40% of their workforce in one day and still have everything get done with no problem, were they really that overstaffed until last week? 
From the Chronicle article:
“Thorpe had a different interpretation of what occurred on Friday, and added that the delay in feeding and mucking was minimal.
“The rumors were out and about, many of them were totally false; that didn’t occur,” said Thorpe, who estimated that roughly 60% of the staff is still working. “Horses were all fed. Horses all had water.”
In my limited experience doing pro bono work in the immigration space, your entire post is spot on. Thank you for stating it better than I could.
I believe it is a federal requirement to insure all employees are documented as there are federal benefits involved (social security etc.) and federal income tax required.
My mom was on a green card until I was about 7 years old and still recall going with her to the post office to confirm her address, still remember the dirty looks from others. She was one of those shifty Irish Canadians.
700 people have interacted with that article. 38,000 interacted with the post about that premature foal. The truth is that this country is completely apathetic.
Which post about the premature foal are you comparing this to?
I think the disconnect here is that to you “criminal” means someone convicted of some horrible crime.
To others, in this situation, “criminal” means someone here illegally.
I remember going to my grandmothers naturalization ceremony. I was about 9
Sorry I misspoke. I was 7. It was before my grandfather died and that happened when I was 8
Yes, yes, yes. In Tucson, one of the federal marshals was detained by ICE at the courthouse. He was legal and ICE just grabbed him.
Joe Thorpe? He’s still around?
His perspective is not unexpected. And I’ll leave it at that. 
“I think the disconnect here is that to you “criminal” means someone convicted of some horrible crime. To others, in this situation, “criminal” means someone here illegally”
I prefer the term “undocumented.” I’m fine with undocumented and I want a clear and easy path to a green card. I saw on the news yesterday that as of 2023, there were 350 immigration judges to handle the 300,000 cases that year. The wait time for a hearing is approximately 594 days. It’s easy to go after brown people undocumented or not. They stand out in a sea of white faces.
The “labor market” can’t provide enough capable and qualified workers in a whole lot on industries. If you think the cost of groceries cost more now, just wait. Or the price of a burger at McDonalds goes through the roof. Americans are in for a serious wake up call.
Same reaction here 
what a blast from the past
Crossing the border unauthorized is a misdemeanor. So is a traffic violation. Maybe we should deport all the speeders and traffic sign rule breakers, too.
Actually speeding and running stop signs are civil violations. Try again. But yes if they are here illegally I’m fine with deporting them.
A misdemeanor is a crime.
Okay, well, then speaking for my state, “In Tennessee, most traffic offenses are classified as misdemeanors.”
Just being in the US without documentation isn’t a crime.
https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/trump-immigrants-criminals-white-house-briefing
This was established in Arizona vs US (2012)
So, if a person from another country overstays their validly issued visa, which is a civil violation, you are cool with letting them stay in the US while their civil proceedings are being conducted?
