Federal Raid in Upstate New York Leads to 57 Undocumented Arrests: ICE Targets Nutrition Bar Factory in Cayuga County
A major federal immigration enforcement operation at a nutrition bar manufacturing plant in upstate New York resulted in the arrest of 57 undocumented workers on September 4, 2025, marking one of the largest workplace raids in the state since the Trump administration’s renewed focus on deportations. The action, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local partners, has sparked outrage from local officials and business owners, while federal prosecutors warn of more to come amid efforts to protect American jobs in high-unemployment areas.
The Raid: Swift Operation at Nutrition Bar Confectioners
Federal agents, including over 50 ICE officers in masks and bulletproof vests, descended on the Nutrition Bar Confectioners facility in the village of Cato, Cayuga County, around 7 a.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The plant, a family-run business producing snack bars, was targeted in what ICE described as a “worksites enforcement operation” to verify employment eligibility.
Workers were detained and loaded into a U.S. Border Patrol van, with photos and videos capturing the chaotic scene as production halted abruptly. Of the 57 arrested, five face federal criminal charges for illegal reentry after prior deportations, according to U.S. Attorney Carla Valentine. The remaining individuals, all undocumented immigrants primarily from Central and South America, were processed for removal proceedings.
Co-owner Lenny Schmidt, who arrived during the raid, expressed shock, stating all workers were “legal residents” based on his hiring practices, though federal officials disputed this, citing unauthorized status. The operation involved coordination with Cayuga County deputies and was part of a broader ICE initiative in the Northern District of New York, where unemployment in Cayuga County hovers around 4.5%—higher than the state average.
Background: Part of Trump’s Mass Deportation Push
The Cato raid aligns with the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy, which has seen ICE arrests surge since January 2025. President Trump pledged the “largest deportation effort in U.S. history,” targeting workplaces to curb unauthorized labor and prioritize American employment. Similar operations include a July 2025 warehouse raid in Edison, New Jersey, detaining 29 immigrants, and a massive June 2025 sweep in New York City yielding 39 arrests.
In Upstate New York, ICE has ramped up efforts, with a June 2025 operation arresting 133 “alien offenders” across Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. The Cato incident echoes a February 2025 raid in Lyons, Illinois, and a September 2025 Hyundai plant sweep in Georgia detaining 475, mostly Korean workers, highlighting a focus on manufacturing and agriculture sectors reliant on immigrant labor. New York’s farms, employing up to 67,000 undocumented workers, face particular strain, with smaller dairy and apple operations warning of labor shortages.
Official Responses: Warnings of More Raids and Local Outrage
U.S. Attorney Carla Valentine emphasized the raid’s intent to “protect American workers,” stating employers in the Northern District “must understand they risk criminal investigation” for hiring unauthorized non-citizens. She warned of “more large-scale workplace enforcement actions,” tying it to high local unemployment and the need for “hard-working Americans” to fill jobs.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed outrage, calling the raid “outrageous” and criticizing federal overreach in a sanctuary state. The Migrant Advocacy group Rural & Migrant Ministry reported over 70 workers affected, urging community support. Schmidt lamented the terror it caused, noting slowed production and worker families left in limbo.
DHS confirmed the arrests but provided no further details on the workers’ nationalities or deportation timelines, amid rising non-criminal detentions—over 50% in recent NYC operations.
Public Reactions: Fear, Support, and Broader Debates
Social media and community forums erupted with mixed responses. Immigrant rights groups like the Immigrant Defense Project decried the raids as “fear tactics,” sharing stories of terrified families and calling for resistance through legal aid and protests. On X, hashtags like #StopTheRaids trended, with users posting videos of the Cato scene and linking it to NYC crackdowns, amassing millions of views.
Supporters, including local Republicans, praised the action for addressing job competition, with posts echoing Valentine’s statement on protecting Upstate employment. Business owners in agriculture voiced concerns over labor shortages, with Newsweek reporting farms at a “breaking point” as undocumented workers—contributing $3.1 billion in taxes—face removal. Advocacy from groups like the Center for Constitutional Rights highlighted preparation toolkits for communities.
Impact on U.S. Readers: Economy, Lifestyle, and Policy Ramifications
For Americans, particularly in manufacturing-heavy regions like Upstate New York, the raid exemplifies the Trump administration’s deportation push, potentially creating job openings but disrupting industries reliant on immigrant labor—New York’s farms alone employ 67,000 such workers. Economically, it could raise production costs for snack bars and agriculture, leading to higher consumer prices amid $3.1 billion in lost tax contributions from undocumented New Yorkers.
Lifestyle impacts include heightened fear in immigrant communities, affecting daily routines from work to school, as seen in recent NYC raids where bystanders were swept up. Politically, it fuels sanctuary state vs. federal clashes, with Hochul’s response mirroring broader debates on enforcement quotas (1,200-1,500 daily arrests). Technologically neutral, but sports and community events in Cayuga County may see reduced participation due to deportation fears. For rural Upstate residents, it highlights tensions between job protection and humanitarian concerns.
Conclusion: A Flashpoint in Immigration Enforcement
The September 4, 2025, federal raid in Cato, New York, resulting in 57 undocumented arrests, underscores the intensifying workplace crackdown under the Trump administration, with five facing reentry charges and warnings of more actions ahead. While aimed at safeguarding American jobs, it has ignited local backlash and economic worries for businesses like Nutrition Bar Confectioners.
Looking forward, as ICE operations expand—mirroring raids in Georgia and New Jersey—this could strain Upstate industries and communities, prompting calls for congressional reform on labor visas. For U.S. readers, it’s a reminder of immigration’s ripple effects, balancing enforcement with economic realities in an era of mass deportations.