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In Cato, a significant immigration raid took place at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant on Thursday (September 4), resulting in the detention of more than 40 workers. The raid, part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security criminal investigation, involved officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement agencies.
The operation began around 9 a.m. and included about 75 law enforcement officers, some wearing masks and bullet-proof vests. According to Syracuse.com, agents used police dogs and crowbars to gain entry into the facility, which was reportedly staffed by around 100 people at the time. Witnesses described a scene of chaos, with some detained individuals visibly distressed.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her outrage, criticizing the raid as cruel and harmful to families, particularly noting that at least a dozen children may have returned home to find their parents missing. "Today's raids will not make New York safer," she said, emphasizing that the actions shattered families striving for a better life.
The detained workers were reportedly taken to the Oswego Border Patrol Station, though specific details about their status remain unclear. The New York Times reported that the raid is one of the largest in New York since President Trump's deportation policies began.
Jessica Maxwell, director of the Workers Center of Central New York, criticized the lack of communication from law enforcement, stating, "What we see is an attack against the community, hard-working people." The raid has sparked concern about the impact on the local community and the food production industry.
Spectrum News confirmed that the raid was a "court-authorized enforcement action" aimed at addressing workplace exploitation and ensuring compliance with labor and immigration laws. However, the lack of information on the detainees' whereabouts has left many families in distress.