The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operation conducted at the Hyundai megasite in Bryan County, Georgia, is notable as the “largest single site enforcement operation in HSI history.”
During a joint press conference held on Friday morning, the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with representatives from HSI, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced their collaborative efforts.
HSI Special Agent Steven Schrank reported that 475 individuals were apprehended on Thursday at HL-GA Battery Company, LLC. Most of these individuals are Korean nationals. Schrank stated that all 475 were either unlawfully present in the U.S. or violated the terms of their stay.
“Some individuals crossed into the United States illegally. Others entered through visa waivers but were forbidden to work. There are also those who overstayed their visas. Each person was questioned about their legal status, and their documents were scrutinized. After thorough verification by our experts and legal team, those identified as illegally present were detained and transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody,” Schrank explained.
Those arrested have been taken to the Folkston ICE Processing Center, according to Schrank.
When the criminal search warrant was executed, several people attempted to escape. For instance, a few individuals ran into an on-site sewage pond. Agents utilized a boat to retrieve them from the water, as stated in a press release.
One person swam underneath the boat and attempted unsuccessfully to capsize it. These escapees were apprehended and subsequently identified as unauthorized workers, according to HSI.
“The goal of this operation is to reduce illegal employment and prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers. Another goal is to protect unauthorized workers from exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap said.
This investigation was led by HSI, with assistance from ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), FBI, ATF, DEA, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Marshal Service (USMS), and Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Tania Groover, Ryan Bondura, Kelsey Scanlon, and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr., are investigating this case.
The investigation is ongoing. Agents collected more evidence from the site Thursday. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, “a nationwide initiative that marshal the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total eliminations of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protects our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
received a response from the White House Deputy Press Secretary.
“The United States is proud to be a home for major investments and looks forward to continuing to build on these historic investments and partnerships that President Trump has secured. Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations. President Trump will continue delivering on his promise to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws,” Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson wrote in a statement to .
