Federal raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, Wayne County, raises questions over worker detention, search warrants and constitutional rights
Husneara Choudhury:— Newly released body-camera footage offers a rare look inside a federal immigration raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners (NBC), a food manufacturing facility in Cato, Wayne County, New York, where 57 workers were arrested.
The raid took place on September 4, 2025, involving roughly 60 federal agents. The footage shows officers entering the facility, securing areas, searching production spaces, warehouses and offices, and gathering workers for questioning about their citizenship and immigration status.
More Than 100 Workers Questioned
A lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations alleges that more than 100 workers were detained and questioned during the operation, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
The plaintiffs claim federal agents exceeded the limits of the search warrants by detaining and questioning workers without individualized suspicion.
Constitutional Rights at Issue
A related federal court ruling also raised concerns about the legality of one worker’s detention, finding a Fourth Amendment violation.
The case has intensified questions over how far federal immigration authorities can go when conducting enforcement operations inside workplaces.
Families Affected
The lawsuit alleges that more than 20 arrested workers had children. Some were transferred to detention facilities outside New York, while others were reportedly deported.
Federal Government’s Position
The Department of Homeland Security has said the operation at the Cato factory was carried out under a criminal search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation.
The allegations remain part of ongoing legal proceedings. The case has become a broader debate over immigration enforcement, workplace rights and the limits of federal authority.
