City Of Oswego Responds To Border Patrol Incident 

OSWEGO – Responding to an incident occurring in the City of Oswego yesterday involving the U.S. Border Patrol attempting to execute a federal judicial warrant against several individuals, Oswego Mayor Robert A. Corradino provided the following statement:

“Yesterday’s incident required a coordinated and disciplined response from multiple city agencies, and I want to commend the Oswego Police Department and Oswego Fire Department for their professionalism throughout this evolving situation. Their actions ensured that our students, residents, and neighborhoods remained safe despite the uncertainty and heightened tensions in the area. Our police officers acted swiftly to support the school district, protect private property, and de-escalate conflicts as they emerged. Our firefighters responded to a 911 call solely to provide a safe means of egress, a reminder that their mission is always centered on safety, not enforcement. 

I recognize that incidents involving federal agencies can generate strong emotions. Even so, our responsibility as a city is clear: we protect our residents, safeguard our neighborhoods, and maintain order. I am grateful that no one was injured and that our personnel upheld the highest standards of conduct. 

I want to thank the neighbors for their patience and cooperation, and I encourage everyone to continue engaging respectfully as we navigate situations that can be complex and sensitive. Oswego’s strength has always been its people, and yesterday our community showed that even in challenging moments, safety and civility remain our priority.” 

The following report of the incident on East Seventh Street was compiled by the Oswego Police Department in consultation with the Oswego Fire Department and the Mayor’s office: 

On September 30, 2026, at approximately 1:28 p.m., the Oswego Police Department (OPD) responded to the vicinity of East Seventh Street and Burkle Street for reports of a reckless driver complaint. It was reported to Oswego County 911 that there was a vehicle driving off the roadway creating a hazard. That  area is near a child day care facility and Charles E. Riley Elementary School. Upon arrival, our police officers began an investigation and worked with the Oswego City School District (OCSD) personnel regarding the reckless driver complaint and the necessity to maintain safety around the area of the school. As information was further developed, it was learned that the initial incident was related to the US Border Patrol targeted enforcement division attempting to apprehend multiple individuals on federal judicial warrants; the individuals fled from a vehicle after a brief pursuit. Contact was made with James Napoli, Patrol Agent in Charge, Oswego Station, who advised that their incident was now confined to a private residence on East Seventh Street where the subjects managed to climb to the second story roof of the residence and refused to come down. 

Initially, OPD did not respond to the US Border Patrol scene. Rather, OPD began working with the OCSD administration taking steps to maintain safety in the area with the OCSD initiating a lock-out for Riley Elementary School. OPD officers and a school resource officer remained on the school grounds and assisted with dismissal and the safe departure of the students. 

At approximately 2:30 p.m., calls were made to 911 regarding vehicle complaints around East Seventh Street. As officers concluded the dismissal at the school, multiple calls were made to 911 requesting police response to residences near the US Border Patrol scene. Upon arrival, OPD officers interviewed multiple complainants who advised officers that demonstrators that were gathering near the scene were threatening them and trespassing on their private property. Multiple residents in the area had the same concerns. Officers de-escalated several situations with demonstrators that were trespassing on residential private property and engaging in vulgar exchanges with the residents. Officers were able to have demonstrators voluntarily comply to exit private property and were advised to return to the street. Officers remained in the area of the neighborhood complaints to ensure the safety of the neighbors and demonstrators, and to keep demonstrators off private property as the crowd was increasing and tensions were appearing to rise due to concerns expressed in relation to Border Patrol’s engagement with the individuals on the roof. Officers additionally learned that the residence with the subjects on the roof was occupied by the homeowner, who wanted to stay in place. 

At about 5:00PM a request was made by Patrol Agent in Charge Napoli to the Oswego Fire Department (OFD) for a ladder to be made available on the scene. Agent Napoli advised OPD and OFD command staff that negotiations were on-going with the subjects on the roof and he wanted to give them safe egress to come down. OFD granted the request and OPD provided assistance to the firefighters as they were being verbally challenged and agitated by the demonstrators as they proceeded to the residence. OFD attempted to place the ladder on the upper portion of the second story roof in a safe and stable location for the subjects to descend from the roof. As OFD was attempting the ladder placement, the subjects on the roof were pushing the ladder away from the residence and it became apparent that the subjects did not want to utilize the ladder to come down. The OFD personnel recognized the futility of setting up the ladder and left the scene without further incident. The ladder was left on the ground and was not utilized at any point further. As the crowd numbers continued to increase, demonstrators were beginning to leave the roadway and come onto the private property of the residence. A separate group of individuals had gathered, and the crowd began to enter on private property, and both groups were engaging with each other. For the safety of all involved, OPD officers took up locations around the owner-occupied residence to protect private property and to give them the ability to monitor the crowd. 

Ultimately, Border Patrol decided the effort to have the subjects come down safely was not a viable option under the circumstances. Border Patrol cleared the scene. OPD, working with the homeowner, cleared the immediate area. A privately owned ladder was left on the residence for the subjects to descend from the roof. A short time later, the individuals came down from the roof of their own accord. Crowds thinned once the roof cleared, however the homeowner later requested OPD to respond as the demonstrators were coming back onto his property. Officers responded and were able to clear the scene without incident. No arrests were made or facilitated by OPD related to the Border Patrol investigation, the property complaints, or the demonstration. 

Oswego Fire Department Chief Paul Conzone stated, “I want to be clear that our efforts last evening were for safety first and not an effort to apprehend individuals. Once we provided the ladder to safely assist the individuals on the roof, we cleared the scene and only returned to retrieve our ladder once the incident concluded.” 

Oswego Police Department Chief Damian Waters stated, “I am proud of our officers’ efforts this evening. We worked tremendously well with the school district to ensure the safety of our students. As the US Border Patrol incident evolved, I am proud of our officers’ professionalism on the scene and their ability to de-escalate the multiple calls for service they handled in the neighborhood. This was an evolving situation that ended with no one being injured or arrested.”