The overwhelming victories by Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, giving the party control of the House and Senate, have raised questions as to what comes next for immigration policies that affect the Thoroughbred industry.
The American Business Immigration Coalition on Nov. 5 hosted an online press briefing to discuss what comes next on the heels of the Democrats' success at the polls.
ABIC CEO Rebecca Shi said that it is to the benefit of Republicans to take action that would restore faith in the party among a growing Latino population. Democrats, she added, need to prove they can provide "concrete solutions" or at least show incremental steps forward.
And for President Donald Trump, she said, "He can be the president who poisoned the political well for his party with Latinos, or he can be the hero to deliver a serious solution for the long-term undocumented, a solution that will build on his border policy, be popular with voters, and bring down prices."
The briefing, which included Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and several business and community leaders, was light on solutions but high on optimism.
"The American people have spoken. The Hispanic voters have spoken. It is time for Congress to speak with one voice for the DREAM Act," Durbin said. "The people that I work with in the Senate, many Republicans included, feel that we're long overdue putting together a sensible immigration policy. We can have a safe and secure country. We can have a border policy that makes sense as well. And we can treat people humanely."
The DREAM Act, which is a proposed bill that would grant a legal pathway to permanent residence and United States citizenship for some undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children. Some of these people might work in the Thoroughbred industry.
The most well-known action taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a track or farm came in 2025 when ICE agents raided Delta Downs.
Many applauded that raid and others like it as examples of Trump keeping his campaign promises. But as the breadth of those actions expanded, many of his supporters soured on him.
"I voted for President Trump three times because I believed him when he said he would deport the 'worst of the worst' and bring economic prosperity to America. But he broke those promises," said Mario Guerrero, CEO and executive director of the South Texas Builders Association.
Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association and chair of the ABIC Agricultural Council, said that undocumented agriculture workers are valued members of their communities.
He spoke of a situation that could resonate with horsemen.
"When ICE came to Kansas in September, raids drove workers to hide inside cattle and feedyard bunks usually used during blizzards. These raids sent shockwaves across our agricultural industry ... President Trump and Congress have an opportunity to deliver the solutions our agricultural industry desperately needs."
The newly elected officials won't take office until January when they are sworn in, and until then, they won't be able to directly work on legislation.
"As the President has said several times this week, he wants to work with Democrats on immigration solutions. So the time is now," Shi said.
