Five of the 69 workers detained during an immigration raid last week at a protein bar plant in northern Cayuga County have been charged with illegally reentering the U.S. after already having been deported, according to documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court.
Those workers are not among those deported this weekend. Several of the workers detained in last week’s raid were sent to Guatemala just days after they were picked up. The whereabouts of many others are still unknown, family and the owners of Nutrition Bar Confectioners told syracuse.com.
Because the workers have been charged with a federal crime, they are required to be given a trial in federal court.
According to the court documents, all of the people were found to have been deported previously. There are no other charges listed against them.
Alex Ben Chipin, Luis Fernando Moralez-Jom, Gregorio Baldemor Ramirez-Perez, Argentina Juarez-Lopez and Francisco Salvador-Mora, all workers at the factory, were charged with illegal re-entry, according to court filings.
More articles on raid of Central New York factory
- Gov. Hochul slams federal immigration raid, calling it ‘deeply appalling’ and ‘un-American”
- ICE raid in Upstate NY shows ‘our democracy is under attack’ (Your letters)
- Inside the Upstate NY immigration raid: Secrecy, deception and a rush to deport dozens of workers (video)
- GOP Upstate NY mayor invokes his mother’s immigration and criticizes Cato raid: ‘We must do better’ (Guest Opinion)
- No violent criminals charged in Upstate NY raid; U.S. Attorney warns other businesses they’re next
