Cato Food Plant Reels After Federal Immigration Raid Detains Dozens, Owners Speak Out
Cato Food Plant Reels After Federal Immigration Raid Detains Dozens, Owners Speak Out
CATO, N.Y. – Owners of a Central New York food manufacturing plant are reeling after a massive federal immigration raid on Thursday, September 4, 2025, saw approximately 70 of their workers detained. The owners of Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, Jeff, Lenny, and Mark Schmidt Jr., expressed shock and alarm, stating they felt ‘terrorized’ by the unexplained operation.
Over 50 federal agents, including US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, descended on the plant at 12351 Route 34. According to the owners, agents, some masked and in bullet-proof vests, specifically detained Hispanic workers, some of whom reportedly had legal documentation in their vehicles that they were not permitted to retrieve. Cayuga and Oswego County sheriff’s deputies assisted in the raid.
The Schmidt brothers, whose family has operated the business for nearly 50 years, said nothing like this has ever occurred. The raid forced the plant to shut down for the remainder of Thursday, and operations resumed Friday with a significantly depleted workforce. The company, which employs about 220 people and typically runs 24 hours a day, faces a ‘huge blow’ with the loss of roughly a third of its staff.
While Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck confirmed the raid was part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigation into felony crimes, neither he nor an ICE spokesperson would specify the nature of the alleged offenses. The owners maintain their hiring practices are fully compliant with federal law, noting their diligence due to a large number of migrant workers.
The Schmidts are now focused on supporting their remaining employees and the families of those detained, some of whom have children left behind. They expressed concern about the long-term impact on their business and the community, questioning if workers will want to return and the challenge of replacing highly skilled staff.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.