Hochul Defends Illegal Workers, Slams ICE for Doing Its Job

Governor Kathy Hochul sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday, saying she was “fed up” with the agency’s tactics after its recent raid on a Cayuga County production facility left dozens detained and a local business in turmoil.

Speaking at a press conference in Onondaga County, Hochul confirmed she met with the owners of Nutrition Bar Confectioners, the Cato-based plant that was raided earlier this month. ICE detained 57 workers during the operation claiming they were “unlawfully present” in the United States. Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone said five now face felony federal charges and that the others were “on their way back to their countries of origin.” However, a Central New York immigration attorney disputed that statement, and the U.S. attorney’s office has not clarified.

“They’re struggling to keep their business afloat,” Hochul said. “I walked the factory lines. They were idle. They make products that are sold in Costcos and Walmarts and stores all across the world – nutrition bars. And they showed me the assembly lines that were silent where workers had just been just 12 days ago. They showed me the workers that were still there but many of them have been traumatized and many other workers have just not returned.”

According to Hochul, the company’s owners said many workers remain missing or unaccounted for. One owner told her, “I could not believe that our little business here was subjected to a raid, people wearing masks, bursting in the doors with guns showing.”

The governor condemned ICE’s methods, saying one agent “burst into a women’s restroom” and “yanked” a worker off the toilet before lining her up with others. “Is this really what America has come to? Where agents who claim they’re there to deal with violent criminals, turns out they only had administrative warrants they didn’t even have criminal warrants?” Hochul asked.

She added that she has contacted White House border czar Tom Homan about the raid, particularly about mothers separated from their children - including three women with babies under one year old - but has not received a response.

“I have told him in the past what I will help you, the state of New York will help you, law enforcement at my disposal will help you, if you truly are working to eliminate the threat of violent individuals from our communities,” Hochul said.

“I personally think these federal representatives don’t give a damn,” she added. “I’m fed up with it.”

Hochul also noted the fallout for the business itself: “They basically paralyzed a business. They don’t have enough employees now.”

Hochul Defends Illegal Workers, Slams ICE for Doing Its Job