ICE Raid in Cato abducts 80 people

Genesee Valley Indivisible is sharing news from Scott Comegys, candidate for New York Senate District 54. GVI does not endorse candidates for office at this time.

However, we appreciate Scott acting quickly to share the shocking news he received.

Scroll down for details of a peaceful “emergency” rally in Seneca Falls TODAY, 9/5/25, all afternoon from 1pm to 6pm. (90-minute drive from most of the Genesee Valley to Seneca Falls.)

Last night and this morning I received terrible news.

Below you will see an email from Richard Witt from Rural and Migrant Ministries –

Dear Board and Colleagues,

I write to tell you of an ICE raid that took place in a packing house not far from Liturgia, our center in the Finger Lakes today. ICE, along with officers from the Sheriff’s departments, apparently went in search of “a criminal” and ended up raiding the whole operation. After barging in by battering the door, they detained close to 80 people. Among those detained are close relatives of our colleagues Ana and Wilmer.

The Oswego and Cayuga County Sheriff’s Offices both cooperated with ICE, although a dispatcher for the Oswego County Sheriff denies this (we have video evidence of their presence, however). We’re told they shut off wifi in the area.

There were also reports that a simultaneous raid was conducted this morning at Teti Bakery in Fulton, about 20 minutes away from Cato. We were told early that ICE agents had surrounded the bakery but had not gotten in. We have not been able to confirm this and have not received any further updates, but we’re still working on this.

Ana and Rafael rushed to the scene and Wilmer organized support from the regional rapid response team. Juana is working with the Attorney General’s office and Gittel is working with the New York Times and TV newscasts.

This is all unfolding as I write this, so I can’t give you more information, except to say that Rapid Response members went to the schools of children – They wanted to tell the children that their parents had been taken, and are working to ensure care for the children and to get there before ICE went to the schools to take the children.

Once again we see the current President’s regime harming our Finger Lakes communities. This is not an isolated incident.

I don’t even know how many of the 80 abducted are actual immigrants. I don’t know the legal status of those that are. I’m willing to bet that many are here legally and some may be citizens.

More disturbing is the news of Sheriff’s departments colluding with ICE in New York State to support these abductions. While I am in support of the Sheriffs and deputies responding to actual criminal activity, this has just the barest justification for their presence with the phrase “in search of a criminal.” If there is not an active crime happening, local law enforcement should not be involved.

We need a better policy at the state level to address this cooperation.

There is a peaceful protest in response to this action. If you can go, please do so. I know it is short notice and can understand if you can’t go. If you can’t go please share this news far and wide.

This abduction is the work of fascism in our communities and we must stop it!

Thank you,
Scott Comegys