In Jessup, Maryland, local food truck vendors are struggling amid a combination of extreme heat and deteriorating air quality caused by wildfires in Canada, compounded by growing fears over immigration enforcement. The consecutive heat waves this July have pushed temperatures close to 100 degrees, driving potential customers away and making working conditions inside the metal food trucks nearly unbearable.

Employees like Yanira Olivares of Martin’s Total Seasoning Food Truck described the work as physically demanding, noting the lack of relief from the oppressive heat. The situation worsened on Friday when a dense layer of smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the area, leading the Maryland Department of the Environment to issue a Code Purple air quality alert. This designation signals very unhealthy air for the general population and prompted officials to advise residents to remain indoors if possible.

Olivares arrived at work wearing a mask to protect against the smoky, acrid air, which she described as smelling like “carbon and burnt plastic.” By mid-afternoon, the food truck had served only a dozen customers, underscoring the downturn in foot traffic. Similarly, workers at other food trucks across Howard County, including Luis Tom at Taqueria Los Primos in Savage, reported sweltering conditions inside their vehicles, where temperatures often exceed outdoor heat due to the use of cooking equipment.

Despite the natural challenges, many vendors are also facing declining business linked to increased immigration enforcement activity in the county. Since January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified operations, including arrests connected with a national campaign endorsed by the federal government. Howard County has seen its first documented ICE arrest this year and is currently involved in a legal dispute over emergency legislation intended to prevent an ICE detention facility from being established in Elkridge.

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted that the recent wave of ICE arrests—totaling 10,000 nationwide in five days at the end of June—was part of efforts to remove criminal illegal immigrants from the country. This enforcement environment has created apprehension within the Latino community, which forms both the core of many food truck staffs and their customer base.

At Pepito’s Grill, operated by the family of Claudia Perdomo in Howard County, regular customers have become increasingly cautious. Many now place orders for takeout rather than visiting in person, a change Perdomo attributes to fear of ICE raids. With fewer patrons stopping by, she and her sister-in-law have spent much of their summer waiting out slow periods outside the truck, relying on a small fan for relief.

Olivares also noted a visible drop in customers, particularly from workers in sectors such as gardening and roofing, who have historically been part of her daily clientele. “I’m glad I have a job and can work,” she said, “but it’s sad to see the decreasing numbers of customers. They just don’t come anymore.”

Together, these environmental and social factors have created a challenging landscape for food truck operators in Howard County, threatening the viability of small businesses already operating on thin margins.