U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids Interrupting The Pennsylvania Mushroom Industry

The new restrictive immigration policies under the Donald Trump administration threaten to worsen labor dynamics in Pennsylvania’s $1.1 billion mushroom industry. With an increase in ICE enforcement in the region, the stakes are rising.

Venezuelan migrants who was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are part of families that have always worked in agriculture. under the 2023 designation, is part of the latest wave of immigrant workers who for decades have come to Chester County to labor in Pennsylvania’s mushroom sector. TPS allows foreign nationals already in the U.S. to remain for six, 12, or 18 months. Regardless of how they entered, if their home country is deemed too dangerous for return.

In February 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, moved to terminate TPS for Venezuelans who received protection under the 2023 expansion. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this designation had allowed approximately 348,000 Venezuelans to remain legally in the U.S., many eligible for work authorization. Meanwhile, Venezuelans who were granted TPS under the earlier 2021 designation can retain their status . This provides only temporary relief and leaving long-term status uncertain.

Combined with Trump’s broader immigration policy pushes creating stricter border enforcement, increased deportations, tighter restrictions on work permits and asylum protections. There is starting to show worker shortages on fields accross America. Thereby, forcing the increase of food prices in supermarkets and restaurants. The available workforce in Pennsylvania’s mushroom farms and other agricultural sectors is now under heightened pressure.

The Changing Face Of The Mushroom Workforce

The mushroom industry in Pennsylvania has been shaped and sustained by immigration waves since the late 19th century. For example, Italian immigrants in the early 20th century helped transform the city of Kennett Square in Chester County. In recent years, it has earned the nicknamed the “Mushroom Capital Of The World”. This is due to the surrounding areas being the leading production center of mushrooms for all of America. Pennsylvania today produces about 69% of all mushrooms sold in the U.S., according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

In Chester County alone, 199 million pounds of mushrooms grew during the 2024 season, with an increase expected in 2025. While Chester County remains the hub of production, mushroom farms stretch into Berks County and northeastern Maryland. Mainly this is white-button mushrooms for culinary purposes while Lion’s Mane mushrooms for medicinal purposes has taken second place. Yet workforce instability remains a pressing issue. The work is physically demanding due to the humid enclosed growing rooms and a delicate hand-harvest. Also, the pay is often low which creates instability and makes it difficult to retain workers long-term. As a result, the industry remains heavily dependent on immigrant labor.

No national statistics track exactly the workers by nationality are in mushroom farms, field research indicates that today’s farm workers are predominantly from Mexico and Guatemala. This is especially true in California which is the number two state in America for mushroom growing. In recent years, more Pennsylvania workers have arrived from Venezuela then elsewhere. Program designations such as TPS and the CHNV process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans have played roles in addressing labor needs. Essentially, in industries such as agriculture.

The Rise Of Labor Contractors

To fill gaps, many mushroom farms now rely on labor contractors to recruit, manage and employ workers. Specifically, the handling of payroll, workers’ compensation, and medical access. For growers, this offers flexibility and reduces administrative burden. But, for workers the arrangement can be less stable. Contractors receive fewer benefits, less bargaining power, and less direct relationship with farm owners. Some workers appreciate the flexibility yet a new placement could have wider harvesting beds and a greater physical toll. Thus, while contractors help operations running, they do not solve the core challenge of attracting long-term employees all year round.

If the worker pool shrinks, mushroom farms may struggle to meet demand from grocery stores, restaurants and processors. Reduced supply would mean higher consumer prices. Simply, if retailers have to source mushrooms from other states or abroad, additional costs (transport, tariffs, supply-chain disruptions) may follow. Without immigration policy that recognizes the industry’s year-round labor needs, Pennsylvania mushroom growers will be scrambling.

Heightened risk: ICE raids in Pennsylvania farms and food-sector workplaces

Adding a new layer of risk is the uptick in ICE enforcement activity in Pennsylvania. In July 2025, ICE conducted a raid at a supermarket in Norristown (Montgomery County), where 14 undocumented immigrants were arrested. CBS News. That particular enforcement action was in a retail location rather than on a farm. The advocates for farm-labor report the renewed threat of enforcement looms over agriculture in the commonwealth.

According to state-level coverage, agricultural organizations warn that ICE raids — or the perception thereof — are already affecting farm operations. A June 2025 article notes that the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau gave a quote calling the situation will have ‘potentially devastating consequences for our nation’s food security’. Another regional analysis cites that nearly 40 % of the agricultural workforce in Pennsylvania is either undocumented or on temporary legal status like H-2A visas. Combine that with the fact that about 90 % of the food we eat is produced domestically, the potential for disruption is enormous.

In counties with strong agriculture (Lancaster, Franklin, Cumberland), enforcement activity has been more visible. Farm labor experts say that fear of raids creates instability. One worker may choose to stop showing up, others may avoid recruitment channels, farms may lose trusted labor, and incur training costs for replacements.

Implications For The Pennsylvania Mushroom Industry

For the mushroom sector in Chester County and beyond, the combination of reduced legal pathways (TPS termination), stricter immigration enforcement, and the risk of ICE activity creates a perfect storm. Farms that rely on steady, trained, trusted labor see any disruption as high-cost: delayed harvest, bruised product, missed packing windows, higher wages to attract new/trained workers, or even sourcing from outside the region.

If farms reduce production or shift to higher-cost sourcing, mushrooms may become less competitive. Subsequently, prices at retail will rise and consumers may feel the effects. At the same time, growers may struggle to retain workers who fear deportation or enforcement, or who previously accessed program protections such as TPS and now face uncertainty.

Policy And The Way Forward

Lawmakers have tried to respond: for example, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 (FWMA) passed the House but stalled in the Senate. The bill would create a “Certified Agricultural Worker” status for experienced farm laborers. This would expand eligibility for the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program to year-round jobs like mushroom farming. It also proposes mandatory phased-in use of E-Verify for ag employers. But without deeper immigration reform, the industry remains vulnerable.

In light of recent ICE enforcement signals, farms and the broader agricultural sector in Pennsylvania — especially high-dependence industries like mushroom farming — must prepare: auditing workforce authorization, working with legal counsel on compliance, training backup pools, exploring automation/technological alternatives, or engaging in policy advocacy. Because without intervention, the strains on workers, growers and consumers are likely to intensify.