United States pet food production depends on agricultural products. Livestock and crops depend on farmworkers, and many of them are undocumented immigrants. In data from 2020–22, the National Agricultural Workers Survey found that 42% of crop farmworkers in the United States held no work authorization. Following the January 20 declaration of a national emergency, deportations of undocumented immigrants and stopping unregulated border crossings became a federal priority. Along with ripple effects from the agricultural sector, the pet food industry may also be affected by deportations and reduced numbers of immigrant workers.
“The pet food manufacturing sector has historically relied on a diverse international workforce to maintain its operations,” Rosanna Berardi, founder of Berardi Immigration Law, told Petfood Industry.
The precise number of people who have been deported so far during the second Trump administration is unclear. Honduran news outlet El Heraldo reported that 4,500 Hondurans had been deported from the United States during the first 40 days of 2025. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that approximately 11,000 Mexicans had been deported from the U.S. since January 20, reported Reuters. Regardless of the number, these deportations will likely affect producers of pet food and ingredients.
Deportations affect agriculture and pet food
At the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo, Christian Richter, principal with The Policy Group, answered questions related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at the poultry processing facilities, reported WATT Poultry. Every worksite, no matter what sector, could be subject to deportations, he said.
“Recent immigration enforcement actions across multiple facilities have created significant staffing challenges for manufacturers,” Berardi said. “Further complicating the labor landscape, the temporary pause in refugee resettlement programs has reduced access to an established pipeline of entry-level workers.”
This reduction in the labor pool could challenge pet food companies’ ability to recruit and retain workers.
“With the labor market operating at near-capacity levels, pet food manufacturers face mounting pressure to attract and retain production staff,” Berardi said. “Industry analysts suggest companies may need to implement more competitive compensation packages to secure the workforce necessary for maintaining production targets.”
To avoid ICE raids and deportations, pet food manufacturers maintain rigorous compliance with federal employment verification requirements, she said.
In the face of immigration difficulties, pet food companies may need to increase automation, she said. While H-2B visa programs present administrative difficulties, technology may prove to be a more sustainable long-term challenge.
U.S. Marines install concertina wire along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, California, USA.Credit: U.S. Department of Defense, Marine Lance Cpl. Caleb Goodwin