Conservative Congressman, Horsemen Talk Visa Concerns

Ask any Thoroughbred trainer and they will tell you they are concerned about finding enough workers through the H-2B visas program. That's in any year.

But throw in the current political landscape, and those worries are heightened. 

Looking to find common ground, Gray Delany, executive director of the Seasonal Employment Alliance, and immigration attorney Will Velie, invited United States Representative Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican, to visit with several horsemen at Pimlico Race Course May 16. Delany's SEA held a March fundraiser for Harris at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida home of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The meeting gave Harris an opportunity to meet with officials from the American Business Immigration Coalition, which, according to its website, seeks to "advance sensible immigration reform that secures the border, strengthens the economy, and benefits all American families." The ABIC and groups such as the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association are collaborating to advance solutions for essential, long-term, law-abiding immigrant workers in the industry.

H-2A visas are for temporary agricultural workers and H-2B visas are for temporary nonagricultural workers, which is the category jobs in the horse racing industry fall under.

Harris said that despite Trump's efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, the president is "well aware" that he can't cripple American industries with overreaching policies. 

"Like a lot of industries in the United States, they are going to need foreign workers," Harris told BloodHorse. "Americans just aren't going to do some of the jobs. And again, they depend upon our visa program, H-2A and H-2B visas, but we know that there's huge demand for both those programs. We just need to realize that there are jobs Americans aren't going to do, and if we have willing temporary foreign workers to come in, we should welcome them with open arms."

It was also important for the horsemen to use this opportunity to encourage Harris to push for federal funding for the upcoming rebuild of Pimlico and the new training center at Shamrock Rock Farm in Carroll County, Md.

Harris, who is a physician, said that many people confuse the issues facing visa applicants with immigration. He said this is a workforce issue for the U.S. 

"These are temporary foreign workers, these are not people who are coming here asking to stay here forever, asking them to be citizens, asking for benefits," he said. "They're here to work, and as a country that treasures hard work, we should welcome them."

He said that by building up the visa program, the temporary workers would bolster America's industries and grow its economy.

"I think the realization is going to be that as the (Trump) administration tightens down on illegal immigration that we have to actually plus up legal workforce. And of course, temporary farm workers are one of the aspects of the legal workforce," Harris said.

Harris, who is the chairman of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, spent time chatting with West Point Thoroughbreds president and CEO Terry Finley outside of the Preakness barn. Afterward, he spent time with Ian Wilson, assistant trainer for Graham Motion, whose operations are based in Harris' district. 

Harris joined Wilson as he walked Software  to the track for the second race at Pimlico Friday. 

The congressman also met with jockey Flavien Prat, trainer Michael Trombetta, and others trackside before hosting a fundraiser at the track.