UPDATE: Five workers detained in last week’s immigration raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cayuga County are now facing federal charges for illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported.
The raid, led by Homeland Security Investigations, involved more than 50 people. Those facing charges were taken to the Border Patrol station in Oswego County for processing. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York John Sarcone confirmed that five of the 57 detainees have been charged with illegal reentry, while the remaining individuals are being held for immigration processing.
The five arrested are:
- Alex Ben Chipin, a/k/a Alex Ben-Chiping, a/k/a Alex Bing-Chiping, a/k/a Antonio Lopez-Mendez, age 39, of Guatemala;
- Argentina Juarez-Lopez, age 50, of Guatemala;
- Luis Jom-Morales, age 27, of Guatemala;
- Gregorio Baldemar Ramirez-Perez, age 45, of Guatemala; and
- Francisco Salvardo-Mora, age 22, of Mexico.
The charges filed against the five defendants listed above carry a maximum term of 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 1 year.
Sarcone also said an investigation into the employer is underway. “To employers across the Northern District of New York, heed this warning: we will aggressively pursue criminal investigation against those who violate our laws by employing noncitizens without authorization. There will be consequences. The bad old days of turning a blind eye are over,” he said.
When asked whether the arrests align with the White House directive to target the “worst of the worst,” Sarcone emphasized the role of law enforcement. “My job is to enforce the law. Law enforcement made an arrest. I have to do my job. I can’t turn my back and say, ‘I’m sorry, President Trump wanted to go after the worst of the worst.’ We’re obviously going after anybody who has committed crimes in this country,” he said.
Federal prosecutors are expected to shed new light Tuesday on last week’s federal raid at a Cayuga County food processing plant.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has scheduled a news conference in Albany to discuss the operation at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Ira, which was described as a “worksite enforcement action.” The raid, carried out on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, saw all 230 employees questioned and required to show proof of citizenship. Sixty-nine workers were detained, and the company’s owner told The Citizen that about 10 of them have since been released and returned to work.
Advocates say at least two of those detained have already been deported to Guatemala. Jessica Maxwell, director of the Workers Center of Central New York, also told The Citizen, her group is working with attorneys to track the status of 45 workers still in custody and believes more deportations may already have taken place.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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