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Dozens of workers were taken into custody during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant in Cato on Thursday (September 4). The raid, involving multiple agencies, resulted in many of the detained workers being sent to Texas. The operation was part of a larger federal immigration crackdown that also included a raid in Ellabell, Georgia, where 475 workers were detained.
Lenny Schmidt, co-owner of the plant, described the scene as "terrifying," with over 100 agents swarming the facility, sealing exits, and questioning workers. According to Schmidt, the agents seemed to target Hispanic employees, separating them from others and escorting them into vans. Schmidt stated that his company complies with federal labor laws and that all employees had the necessary documentation to work legally in the U.S.
CNN reported that around 60 workers were detained, and some have already been deported to Guatemala. The rapid deportation process, completed in less than 72 hours, has left families and advocates struggling to keep up with the swift movements by federal authorities.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the raid, calling it a "cruel disruption" to immigrant families. She emphasized that while New York will work with the federal government to secure borders, it will not support actions that separate families and leave children without their parents.
The raid has raised questions about the methods used by ICE, with local law enforcement and state officials expressing concerns over the lack of transparency and the impact on the community. Production at the plant has resumed but at a reduced capacity, with Schmidt estimating a drop in output by about half due to the missing employees. He plans to begin hiring new workers to fill the gaps left by those detained.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the operation was led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, but the exact nature of the investigation remains unclear. The raid has sparked discussions on immigration enforcement practices and their effects on communities and businesses.