Immigration & The Equine Industry: Florida Agricultural Inspection Stations
By Valerie Mahoney, Attorney
On August 25, 2025, Florida officially converted all 23 major agricultural inspection stations into immigration checkpoints. In this series, Valerie Mahoney, immigration attorney and lifelong equestrian, explains how this is impacting the equine industry, agriculture, and transportation sector.
Previously, these agricultural stations focused on preventing the spread of pests and diseases, but they are now also being used to enforce immigration laws under the supervision of ICE officers.
At these checkpoints, inspections will include:
- Health and safety checks – Reviewing health records, looking for pests, and signs of disease.
- Immigration verification – Checking the immigration status of all occupants in vehicles.
Currently, if one of these checkpoints are open:
- All vehicles transporting horses, cattle, livestock, plants, produce, or any other regulated agricultural goods, as well as trucks, vans, trailers where the cargo area is not visible, must stop for inspections.
Those who are being impacted by this policy changes:
- Farmers: Already experiencing labor shortages due to the crackdown on migrant workers
- Equine Industry: Relies heavily on interstate transport and immigrant labor
To prepare for these changes:
- Ensure all documents are valid and accessible.
- Review CDL English proficiency requirements if applicable.
- Plan for potential delays in transportation and logistics.
These updates are especially important for businesses in the equine and agricultural sectors, where timely transport and compliance are critical to operations. 1B labor in ways that appear to replace or underpay local hire.
*Disclaimer: This information is presented for the purposes of general education and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about a specific case, please consult legal counsel.immigration counsel to ensure compliance and explore available options.
