Bummer: Fear of Immigration Raids Hitting Saratoga Springs Hard Before Race Season

This is supposed to be a sob story, but what it really does is expose employers who have been breaking federal law

Fears of immigration raids linger as Saratoga racing season gets underway

It’s opening day at the Saratoga Race Course. Thoroughbred racing is one of the biggest summer attractions and money makers in Saratoga Springs. The industry relies heavily on foreign workers, many of whom are undocumented.

But President Trump has authorized an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. After two federal raids in Saratoga Springs, there are concerns that some laborers will be too scared to show up for work this racing season.

Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 27 Guatemalan and Mexican men near their homes in Saratoga Springs.

ICE says the arrests were targeted enforcement actions, based on leads the agency had gathered. The charges ranged from administrative violations to felony reentry or visa fraud.

These are the bad illegals that supporters of illegal aliens supposedly claim it are OK to round up and deport. Right up till they are rounded up and deported

Activists say some undocumented workers have been scared out of the area since then, leaving some restaurant kitchens understaffed.

“Some restaurant owners have had to cook, be in the kitchen, do dishes, until such time they can find somebody. But they have lost some pretty critical workers,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen.

What it sounds like is that area businesses are not doing their due diligence to make sure their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States, and should get a visit from federal authorities to check their records. And this is what happens when businesses rely on labor which is not authorized to work in the U.S.: they hide when immigration comes sniffing around.

Yepsen said over a thousand foreign workers are behind the scenes at the race track, in the part called the backstretch.

Some business leaders and racing enthusiasts are worried about another immigration raid, this time at the track itself, or about the idea of those crucial workers being scared off.

The illegals are taking jobs that might otherwise have gone to those legally authorized to work in the U.S., and they most likely get paid less than the law requires, all so that these illegal immigration supporters can see some horses race.

Nor is this the only article. The Times Union, the Saratogian, the Saratoga Today, and many other area papers are Very Concerned. The Times Union editorial board wrote a Very Concerned editorial.

And the city has essentially declared itself a sanctuary city, with the mayor giving a cute response that shows where the priorities of herself and other illegal alien supporters lies

Saratoga Springs has experienced dozens of arrests of illegal immigrants this year, and several trainers indicated that their staff are afraid to travel upstate for the race meet. According to nyupstate.com, the city’s mayor Joanne Yepsen declared on Monday that Saratoga police would not be initiating or participating in federal deportation of illegal immigrants.

“There are certain jobs like mucking stalls and washing dishes,” said Yepsen, noting that the deportation fears have been affecting both the racetrack and the local restaurant industry. “You know for some reason, they’re just not able to fill those jobs so it was a win win in my opinion to have those immigrants.”

So, they’re just cheap labor for mucking stalls and washing dishes for these Liberals. When illegal alien supporters start yammering about being compassionate and stuff, just remember Mayor Yepsen’s comment.

Crossed at Right Wing News.