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Emigration and immigration

Immigration Raids on Farms Spark Concerns in Pennsylvania

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Farmers and lawmakers in Pennsylvania are worried about the potential disruptions to the state's agriculture economy due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on farms. The organization is deeply concerned about the impact on the workforce, particularly in the state's dairy industry, which is the number one segment of its agriculture economy. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has more than 25,000 members and is the largest agriculture organization in the state. Its leaders argue that the raids could have devastating consequences for food security, and that the solution lies in reforming the H-2A visa program.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, with over 25,000 members, is the largest agriculture organization in the state and is deeply concerned about the ICE raids on farms.
  • The dairy industry is the number one segment of Pennsylvania's agriculture economy, and the Farm Bureau argues that the raids could disrupt the workforce and impact food security.
  • Bailey Fisher, the Farm Bureau's federal affairs specialist, notes that many Americans prefer office jobs over farm work and that training domestic workers to fill the gap is not a feasible solution.
  • The Farm Bureau believes that the H-2A visa program is "cumbersome, expensive, and fails to meet the year-round needs of modern agriculture."
  • U.S. Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-Centre) has called the raids "just wrong" and urged the administration to stop them.
  • U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has also criticized the approach, suggesting that deporting farmworkers without a real plan would increase costs for families.
  • The Affordable and Secure Food Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), proposes reforms to the H-2A visa program and would provide a more stable workforce for farmers.
  • The American Immigration Council estimates that 196,100 undocumented immigrants live in Pennsylvania, and just under 30,000 may work in the farming industry.

Statistics:

  • 25,000: Number of members in the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
  • 196,100: Estimated number of undocumented immigrants living in Pennsylvania, based on the most recent census data from 2023 (American Immigration Council).
  • 30,000: Estimated number of farmworkers in Pennsylvania without proper documentation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (based on 2017 census data).
  • 4 a.m.: Time when some farmers are required to start their workday, highlighted by Bailey Fisher as an example of the demanding nature of farm work.
  • 40%: Percentage of farmworkers in the country who are without proper documentation, noted by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman.

Sources:

  • [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ice-walks-back-limits-raids-targeting-farms-restaurants-hotels-2025-06-17/]
  • [https://pfb.com/pennsylvania-farm-bureau-statement-on-immigration-enforcement-on-farms/]
  • [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-immigration-officials-told-largely-pause-raids-farms-hotels-nyt-reports-2025-06-14/]
  • [https://penncapital-star.com/donate/?oa_referrer=midstorybox]
  • [https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pmb.html]
  • [https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/]
  • [https://www.bennet.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cache-files-9-9-994accff-6122-4fcc-ac26-77e1da479751-29cf02270b6b1cd11f374ce8026cfe18-affordable-and-secure-food-act.pdf]
  • [https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/h2a-visa-program]
  • [https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/pennsylvania/]
  • [https://agsci.psu.edu/research/centers-facilities/extension/frec/resources/workshop-presentations/employee-recruitment-and-retention/fast-facts-on-the-role-of-foreign-born-workers_final.pdf]

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