Statement Mayor Rice – Immigration Raid

   FULTON –   Four days ago on Thursday, September 4, 2025 a raid was conducted in Cato, NY, by the U.S. Immigration Control and Enforcement Agency (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol.  The raid at the Nutritional Bar Confectioners plant is about 20 minutes from the City of Fulton in Cayuga County.  Personnel from both the Oswego County Sheriff’s and the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Departments assisted the federal agencies, in what has been described by the plant owners as an unnecessary roundup of legal workers.

   Some of these workers are residents of the City of Fulton and the surrounding area.  To date, none of the law enforcement agencies have provided specific information about why the plant was raided, why workers were arrested, or where workers have been detained.  A news report on Syracuse.com indicates that some family members and immigrant worker advocates have been informed that all detainees were flown to an unspecified location in Texas.

   I hope all elected officials in New York State and beyond will join me in condemning the unjustified actions taken by the federal government against the residents of our community.  This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue.  These actions disregard the U.S. Constitution, which provides every person with the right to legal due process.

   I call upon each of you to write and call Federal, state and local officials and ask them to help in every way possible to bring our friends and neighbors home to their families.

   The Fulton community is heartbroken for the families and children who have been traumatized.  I applaud the Fulton School District staff and teachers, led by Superintendent Doug Lawrence, for handling this crisis with compassion and care for each student impacted.  In addition, I extend my thanks to the social service agencies, immigrant advocacy groups, and community members who have stepped forward to support our families and children during this humanitarian crisis.