CATO, N.Y. — The Department of Homeland Security said it had a criminal search warrant for its raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato on Sept. 9.
A DHS spokesperson said the court-authorized operation that detained 57 undocumented immigrants is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The DHS statement is posted below:
Any allegation ICE did not have a criminal arrest warrant during the operation at Nutrition Bar Confectioners on September 4 are FALSE. This operation involved a criminal search warrant and is a part of an ongoing investigation.During the court-authorized worksite enforcement operation at Nutrition Bar Confectioners, ICE arrested 57 illegal aliens. Some had prior criminal convictions or pending charges including child endangerment, DUI, and multiple illegal re-entries. The investigation is ongoing.
Speaking in Syracuse on Sept. 15, Governor Kathy Hochul said that the ICE agents did not have criminal warrants ahead of the raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners. Instead, the governor said they only had administrative warrants.
Governor Hochul was initially in Syracuse to discuss technology advancements for local law enforcement.
Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck told the I-Team that he has copies of the warrants that were executed in Cato. Schenck described one as an administrative warrant and another as a criminal search warrant to further the investigation.
Schenck could not comment on additional details of the ICE raid. He’s maintained since Sept. 4 that his office was only involved in security and traffic control as federal agents searched the facility.
Of the 57 people detained, 52 were flown back to the alleged country of origin, Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III. He noted that the remaining five are being held in the U.S., facing charges for illegally entering the country after they were deported at least once before.
This is a developing story.