SAVANNAH, Ga. () — On Tuesday, Mayor Van Johnson denied claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids were happening in Savannah.
In response to the Hyundai operation, where 475 undocumented immigrants were detained, Mayor Van Johnson refuted allegations that ICE was executing raids in Savannah.
“It was talked that ICE were conducting raids here in Savannah,” the mayor said. “To our knowledge, that’s not true and it did not happen.”
Earlier in the year, there were mentions of ICE raids in Savannah, reportedly in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), targeting individuals linked to drug trafficking.
The mayor admitted to these reports in January, stating that the City of Savannah was made aware of these operations.
Addressing the Hyundai operation, the mayor dismissed rumors suggesting the involvement of the Savannah Police Department (SPD).
“We had no involvement whatsoever. We were not informed beforehand. It seemed that most people weren’t,” he stated. “This was conducted beyond the city’s legal borders.”
The ICE raid at the Hyundai Metaplant was located in Ellabell, Ga., almost 30 miles away from the city and police jurisdiction.
