Cayuga County speakers urge non‑cooperation policy after Sept. 4 ICE raid in Cato

Residents and county legislators addressed the Cayuga County Legislature on a Sept. 4 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, urging limits on county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and criticizing tactics used during the raid.

Resident Charlie Green told the legislature he supported provisions from the New York for All Act that would restrict local probation and municipal involvement with immigration enforcement. "No probation agency or department nor any employee thereof shall inquire about a person's citizenship, immigration status, nationality, or country of origin unless required by law or necessary to administer a public program or benefit," Green said, summarizing language he asked legislators to consider.

Resident Beth Cuddy described what she called widespread constitutional problems with the raid and questioned the use of an administrative warrant. "This raid appears to be a fishing expedition designed to capture people who look Hispanic," Cuddy said, and added that detained workers had been denied due process.

Other residents who spoke, including Patty Bier and Patty LeBlanc, described watching large numbers of primarily Hispanic workers detained, and raised economic concerns for Cayuga County's farms and food businesses if large numbers of workers were deported. "Imagine if ICE came into this room right now and demanded you to provide your citizenship documentation immediately," Patty LeBlanc said, asking the legislature to oppose racial profiling and the sharing of local records with federal immigration agents.

Heidi Nightingale, a county legislator, read a joint statement on behalf of six legislators — Elaine Daley, Aileen McNabb Coleman, Brian Muldrow, herself (Heidi Nightingale), Amy Sargent and Ben Vitale — that condemned the raid's procedures and the reported lack of due process. "We condemn the lack of due process and the use of terrorizing techniques, including immediate separation of families that were used in this raid," Nightingale said, and noted the legislature was not informed before the sheriff's department provided assistance.

At the meeting a county legislator (name not specified in the record) said they would "be working with the legal team to put in place a non cooperation policy," indicating the legislature may pursue draft policy language aimed at preventing voluntary county assistance to ICE in future enforcement actions.

Discussion at the meeting included disagreement over the sheriff's role. Several speakers, including Tara Gowen, praised the sheriff's office and said county law enforcement should not be second‑guessed for providing perimeter or security assistance during federal operations. Others, including a resident who identified as working in Cayuga County, described the raid's human impact in emotional terms and urged the legislature to act to prevent county resources from supporting similar operations.

The meeting record includes disputed counts of detainees and outcomes reported by speakers. One speaker said about 69 employees were taken in the Cato action; another said approximately 57 were detained, with reports that 52 were deported and five charged with illegal reentry. Statements about procedures and outcomes were attributed to public commentators and to local news reports cited by speakers; the legislature did not record a formal, binding policy at this meeting.

The discussion concluded with several legislators saying they would explore policy and legal options. No formal resolution adopting a non‑cooperation policy was introduced or voted on at this meeting.

The issue is likely to return to the legislature if a draft non‑cooperation policy is presented, or if legislators formally request the sheriff's office to change its operational guidance or budgetary support for joint federal operations.