Owners of Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, N.Y., said they were shocked after more than 50 federal agents, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raided their plant on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, detaining about 70 workers and forcing a temporary shutdown of production.
Key takeaways
- Federal agents and local deputies raided the Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant at 12351 Route 34 in Cato on Sept. 4, 2025.
- Owners Jeff, Lenny and Mark Schmidt Jr. say roughly 70 workers were taken; state officials reported more than 40 detentions.
- The company runs 24 hours and employs about 220 people; the raid disrupted shifts and reduced the workforce.
- Owners say many detained workers were Hispanic and that some had government paperwork they could not present before being taken.
- Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck described the event as a Department of Homeland Security probe into alleged felony crimes but provided no further specifics.
- ICE declined to answer questions from reporters about the investigation and the number of people detained.
- The family-run business dates to 1978 and was rebranded in 2007; owners say their hiring practices comply with federal law.
Verified facts
On the morning of Sept. 4, 2025, federal agents, some masked and wearing ballistic vests, entered the Nutrition Bar Confectioners facility in Cato and detained dozens of employees, according to the company owners. Cayuga and Oswego County sheriff’s deputies assisted at the scene.
The Schmidt brothers told reporters the raid removed about 70 of the roughly 150 employees who were working that day; company records and public statements put total employment at about 220. State officials later said more than 40 people were detained, a figure ICE has not confirmed publicly.
Owners reported that some employees who were taken had identification or immigration documents stored in vehicles but were not allowed to retrieve them before being transported. The company also said several detained workers were later released and began returning to work the following day.
The plant normally operates around the clock. After the raid, later shifts were canceled and production ran with a reduced crew. Owners said they contacted families of affected workers and offered assistance with alternative employment where possible.
The Schmidt family founded the business in 1978 and rebranded it as Nutrition Bar Confectioners in 2007. The brothers said they follow federal hiring rules and maintain documentation for employees, especially given their reliance on migrant labor.
Context & impact
Workforce disruption at a 24-hour food-production facility risks lost output, missed orders and higher costs to recruit and train replacement employees. Owners warned that skilled positions may be hard to fill quickly.
The raid has generated community concern in Cato, where some residents and workers say the detained individuals were long-term employees with steady records. State-level reactions included reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul described the detentions as shocking and expressed concern for families affected.
Legally, detentions by ICE and DHS can lead to immigration proceedings or criminal charges depending on the allegations. The sheriff said the raid relates to an investigation into felony crimes, but authorities have not disclosed the specific allegations or evidence.
For the company, the immediate challenge is restoring operations while supporting employees and responding to inquiries from authorities and customers. The medium-term impact will depend on how many workers return and whether further enforcement actions occur.
We feel terrorized; there is no explanation for this action at our plant,
Lenny Schmidt, co-owner
This was part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigation into alleged felony crimes,
Sheriff Brian Schenck, Cayuga County
Unconfirmed
- The precise criminal allegations underlying the DHS investigation have not been publicly disclosed.
- The exact number of people still in custody is unclear because ICE has not released an official tally.
- Individual immigration or criminal status of detained workers and whether all had valid work authorization have not been independently verified.
Bottom line
The Sept. 4 raid at the Cato nutrition-bar plant removed dozens of workers and halted normal operations, leaving owners and the community scrambling to support affected families and to rebuild a depleted workforce. With few public details about the underlying investigation, the plant’s recovery and any legal outcomes remain uncertain.