OSWEGO – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made its presence known in Central New York. Some Oswego residents have found the ICE raids heavy-handed.
Indivisible-Oswego County (IOC) has been conducting weekly protests on Bridge St. since March. Indivisible is a nationwide group, but the local group runs independently.
IOC prefers to refer to their protest as rallies. Each rally has focused on a different theme. Some may remember the No Kings movement, which has worked in conjunction with the IOC. Recent demonstrations have been in response to the raid in Cato.
Paul McKinney is on the executive committee of the IOC. The group began 8 months ago, with 10 people initially. “It started with a meeting at a kitchen table; since then, we’ve grown exponentially,” said McKinney.
The raid at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners factory was the largest ICE raid in the state of New York. “The majority of those folks had their paperwork done, some were in the process of obtaining them,” claimed McKinney, “when they asked ICE agents if they could get their paperwork out of their cars, they were denied, and denied their right to legal counsel.”
The raid was said to be a criminal investigation, but only 5 of the 57 detained were criminally charged with entering the US illegally. The other 52 are still being held, in the IOC’s eyes, inhumanely. “There was a nursing mother, please, where is the humanity?” asked McKinney, “it’s just heart-sickening.”
Councilman John Gosek Jr. believes that it is unjust that many of the detained are not getting their rights of due process. “When push comes to shove, I’m always going to stand by the constitution,” said Gosek. “I think the people today have legitimate grievances, but I still think we have the best system devised in the world in America.”
It has been reported that 12 students have been left parentless after the raids. “They have been taken in by social services, or some teachers have been taking them in, “said McKinney. “This raid in Cato was not only illegal, but to have the Oswego County Sheriff’s department going to Cayuga County to assist is costing taxpayers money,” said McKinney, “there seems to be no conscience from the Sheriff.”
This was in reference to Sheriff Don Hilton, who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and the ICE raids.
“I think the goal in general is to show that a vast majority of Americans don’t support the policies and actions of this regime,” said McKinney. McKinney believes that the current administration is ‘taking the country off the deep end.’
The rallies from the IOC have been peaceful, even when they were at the border patrol office. There was a separate group that chose to camp out at the border patrol office, in violation of city code.
Section 173-1B prohibits camping without a permit in the city of Oswego. Although Corradino and the city had no qualms with the demonstrations, they informed them of the code violation with a hand-delivered letter, provided by the mayor below.
Letter to Occupy Oswego Camp (9-10-25)
“They were in violation of city code and the city had the right to ask them to leave,” said McKinney. McKinney claims that the group was a collection of individuals, but it appears the group was calling itself ‘Occupy Oswego’.
While McKinney was personally disappointed by Mayor Robert Corradino’s public statement, calling it ‘bland, ’ he felt that he did not take a solid enough stance. Still, Corradino has said he has received an outpour of support from residents. He has claimed to have only received 2 phone calls in disagreement, but says that the support in general has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It wasn’t to get people to like me,” said Corradino, “after the events on Thursday and the protesters that came to the common council meeting, I reflected on what I wanted to do.” Corradino crafted his statement at home, calling it deeply personal.
“I’m not trying to be the poster child for immigration reform, but this hit home. My mom loved this country, after her past life in Italy, with the Nazis high-stepping through her village,” said Corradino, “because of the things she went through, I thought it was important to me to speak on it.”
While Corradino does believe in legal immigration, his parents’ experience of coming to the United States has given him empathy for people wishing to go to America. “I’m for people coming to America and contributing to the success that we have always enjoyed,” said Corradino, “America is a melting pot.”
“I never ever said I was for illegal immigration, I just feel that people misread it,” said Corradino, “I was trying to say that we should treat immigrants with dignity, if they’re legal, then they should have no issues, if they aren’t, send them back home.”
Corradino’s parents immigrated to the United States from Italy. Letters from Oswego residents who knew his parents touched Corradino. Corradino’s parents owned a grocery store and were well-known for their charitable work in Oswego. “I thought my parents were very hardworking, decent people, so whenever people share a story that reinforces that, it makes you feel good,” said Corradino.
Regardless of how annoying some residents may find the protesters, Gosek, who is also a schoolteacher, applauds the protesters for expressing their 1st amendment right. “It’s the American way to express your grievances,” said Gosek, “it’s a part of American tradition. They’re American citizens, they have the right to express their points of view, peacefully.”
Recent construction on Bridge St. has not deterred the demonstrators. At the request of the Oswego Police Department, they have moved to the east side and have no plans to stop their demonstrations.
Oswego County Sheriff’s Statemant
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