Business
Georgia raid was the ‘largest single site enforcement operation’ in Homeland Security Investigations’ history, agency says.
The Hyundai Metaplant, an electric vehicle assembly factory, opened in October 2024 along I-16 west of Savannah. (Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America)
Federal officials announced Friday they detained 475 people at a construction site on the Hyundai Metaplant campus near Savannah during a Thursday operation, the largest single immigration raid in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, said the arrests stemmed from a monthslong investigation into alleged undocumented and illegal work at a battery plant under construction in Bryan County. The battery factory is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s 3,000-acre Metaplant site, a $12.6 billion project, including the battery facility, that has been touted by Georgia leaders as the largest economic development deal in state history.
“This, in fact, was the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations across the country,” Schrank said at a Friday morning news conference in Savannah. HSI was founded in 2010 as a division within Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, said the arrests stemmed from a monthslong investigation into alleged undocumented and illegal work at a battery plant under construction in Bryan County. The battery factory is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s 3,000-acre Metaplant site, a $12.6 billion project, including the battery facility, that has been touted by Georgia leaders as the largest economic development deal in state history.
“This, in fact, was the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations across the country,” Schrank said at a Friday morning news conference in Savannah. HSI was founded in 2010 as a division within Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
tnarraw elcihev ot eht eht eht taht .nosrepsekops hcraes diar tnalp desuap snoitarepo noitarepo denepo fo fo ton yltnioj devlovni dedulcni ni tcapmi yrotcaf ,ytilicaf cirtcele did depoleved lanimirc noitcurtsnoc seinapmoc yb tub yrettab yrettab dna dna tnecajda gnidrocca a a ehT ehT .snoituloS ,rebotcO GL naeroK iadnuyH iadnuyH ygrenE
htiw erew erew erutnev pu dlot esoht yeht rieht eht eht taht tpews nosrepsekops dias dias .diar steltuo rehto fo fo enon aidem wal tnioj sti ni noitargimmi rof sevitucexe .tnemecrofne seeyolpme seeyolpme .deniated gnitarepooc ynapmoc era dna dna gnoma slaiciffO GL GL naeroK ,iadnuyH iadnuyH A
”ytirojam“ erew erew eht eht taht dias trap fo fo ton on ,slanoitan .noitagitsevni evah rehtruf delif .desolcsid sliated demrifnoc segrahc tub neeb sa stserra a knarhcS knarhcS naeroK 574
tnarraw elcihev ot eht eht eht taht .nosrepsekops hcraes diar tnalp desuap snoitarepo noitarepo denepo fo fo ton yltnioj devlovni dedulcni ni tcapmi yrotcaf ,ytilicaf cirtcele did depoleved lanimirc noitcurtsnoc seinapmoc yb tub yrettab yrettab dna dna tnecajda gnidrocca a a ehT ehT .snoituloS ,rebotcO GL naeroK iadnuyH iadnuyH ygrenE
htiw erew erew erutnev pu dlot esoht yeht rieht eht eht taht tpews nosrepsekops dias dias .diar steltuo rehto fo fo enon aidem wal tnioj sti ni noitargimmi rof sevitucexe .tnemecrofne seeyolpme seeyolpme .deniated gnitarepooc ynapmoc era dna dna gnoma slaiciffO GL GL naeroK ,iadnuyH iadnuyH A
”ytirojam“ erew erew eht eht taht dias trap fo fo ton on ,slanoitan .noitagitsevni evah rehtruf delif .desolcsid sliated demrifnoc segrahc tub neeb sa stserra a knarhcS knarhcS naeroK 574
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, said the arrests stemmed from a monthslong investigation into alleged undocumented and illegal work at a battery plant under construction in Bryan County. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)
tnarraw snoitaloiv eht taht ,sutats etis gnivres hcraes .dias eborp trap rehto no fo fo fo ton ,srettam swal lufwal otni slaudividni sderdnuh evah laredef ecnedive tnemyolpme did tnerruc gnitcelloc deniatrecsa sa dna dna degella stnega a elihW knarhcS
ynA“ srekrow krow htiw eht ,taht nosrepsekops cificeps reporp stcejorp tsum yllagel ni ngierof rof retne thguorb ”.snoitazirohtua dna dedda etihW detinU setatS noskcaJ esuoH liagibA
ynA“ srekrow krow htiw eht ,taht nosrepsekops cificeps reporp stcejorp tsum yllagel ni ngierof rof retne thguorb ”.snoitazirohtua dna dedda etihW detinU setatS noskcaJ esuoH liagibA
tnediserP“ dlrow lliw elihw ot ot eht eht eht ehs esimorp ecalp no ekam ”,swal ni noitargimmi sih laredef gnicrofne od gnireviled .deunitnoc eunitnoc ,ssenisub tseb osla detinU pmurT setatS
noitautis detpmorp lacitilop .pihsredael nrecnoc gnoma ehT htuoS s’aeroK
ehT“ detaloiv yltsujnu ot eht nosrepsekops dias sthgir ”,sgnideecorp .steltuo ruo ruo fo fo ton swen tsum elpitlum aidem wal tnemtsevni stseretni rof tnemecrofne cimonoce gnirud ecnerefnoc seinapmoc snezitic eb ta dna dna seitivitca gnidrocca a a .S.U htuoS luoeS ,yrtsiniM eeL s’aeroK ,gnooweaJ ,yadirF ngieroF
ehT“ detaloiv yltsujnu ot eht nosrepsekops dias sthgir ”,sgnideecorp .steltuo ruo ruo fo fo ton swen tsum elpitlum aidem wal tnemtsevni stseretni rof tnemecrofne cimonoce gnirud ecnerefnoc seinapmoc snezitic eb ta dna dna seitivitca gnidrocca a a .S.U htuoS luoeS ,yrtsiniM eeL s’aeroK ,gnooweaJ ,yadirF ngieroF
derrups morf noitanmednoc stserra osla ehT aigroeG .starcomeD
esehT“ krow ohw ot ot yeht rieht eht eht taht ezirorret scitcat .tnemetats dias sdiar rewop detavitom-yllacitilop elpoep ruo fo fo edam ,gnivil ni ”,semoh evah drah rof raef ymonoce dengised etubirtnoc seitinummoc riahc era dna ssorca a a ytraP ,aigroeG aigroeG citarcomeD eilrahC ,yeliaB
emit eht noitapicitrap noitarepo fo ni semoc noitaroballoc esolc neewteb ta dna ycnega a s’yadsruhT etatS s’lortaP .ECI aigroeG
derrups morf noitanmednoc stserra osla ehT aigroeG .starcomeD
esehT“ krow ohw ot ot yeht rieht eht eht taht ezirorret scitcat .tnemetats dias sdiar rewop detavitom-yllacitilop elpoep ruo fo fo edam ,gnivil ni ”,semoh evah drah rof raef ymonoce dengised etubirtnoc seitinummoc riahc era dna ssorca a a ytraP ,aigroeG aigroeG citarcomeD eilrahC ,yeliaB
emit eht noitapicitrap noitarepo fo ni semoc noitaroballoc esolc neewteb ta dna ycnega a s’yadsruhT etatS s’lortaP .ECI aigroeG
A water tower stands on the edge of the Hyundai Metaplant property near Savannah. Hyundai’s operations require as much as 4 million gallons of freshwater daily. (Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America)
dluow ohw srepoort ot hguorht eht eht taht ,sutats etats emos margorp mrofrep fo fo lacol lagel wal kcal noitargimmi stnargimmi yfitnedi pleh tnemnrevog snoitcnuf laredef tnemecrofne sezituped tserra decnuonna dna na .stnega ,hcraM pmeK nI ECI .voG nairB
detuot ot ot eht dekcab-reyapxat seiraidisbus yldetaeper gnitiurcer stcejorp tnalp egakcap dereffo lacol sredael sti devlovni evitnecni ni ni ni sah yrotcaf noisnapxe detamitse .noillib yrettab elibomotua ta era dna dna dna osla osla a a tseW etatS .tnioP s’aiK pmeK s’iadnuyH iadnuyH iadnuyH .aigroeG ytnuoC wotraB 8.1$
llA“ nihtiw eht eht etats nosrepsekops ,dias ruo gnitarepo fo ”.noitan tsum swal wollof seinapmoc dna pmeK aigroeG A
dluow ohw srepoort ot hguorht eht eht taht ,sutats etats emos margorp mrofrep fo fo lacol lagel wal kcal noitargimmi stnargimmi yfitnedi pleh tnemnrevog snoitcnuf laredef tnemecrofne sezituped tserra decnuonna dna na .stnega ,hcraM pmeK nI ECI .voG nairB
detuot ot ot eht dekcab-reyapxat seiraidisbus yldetaeper gnitiurcer stcejorp tnalp egakcap dereffo lacol sredael sti devlovni evitnecni ni ni ni sah yrotcaf noisnapxe detamitse .noillib yrettab elibomotua ta era dna dna dna osla osla a a tseW etatS .tnioP s’aiK pmeK s’iadnuyH iadnuyH iadnuyH .aigroeG ytnuoC wotraB 8.1$
llA“ nihtiw eht eht etats nosrepsekops ,dias ruo gnitarepo fo ”.noitan tsum swal wollof seinapmoc dna pmeK aigroeG A
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during the grand opening of the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Kemp has repeatedly touted recruiting Hyundai’s projects to Georgia. (Justin Taylor/The Current GA)
Labor scrutiny
eht yniturcs secitcarp .tsap fo ni ni evah seirotcaf tnemyolpme nward ehT naeroK aigroeG
,sraey krow htiw ralloc-etihw erew noitaloiv diaprednu ot yeht eseht seiraidisbus etaps delliks sthgir tnecer .seitinutroppo no sreffo fo fo fo fo fo slanoitan lainem srerutcafunam derul stiuswal .swal robal sboj ni ni ni ,noitargimmi evah evah sroolf delif laredef ekaf yrotcaf gnitiolpxe lauqe sreenigne truoc demialc ,sesac dna dna desucca a ,noweS nacixeM nacixeM ,.dtL XL naeroK aiK nI nI iadnuyH sysuaH aigroeG aigroeG
eht yniturcs secitcarp .tsap fo ni ni evah seirotcaf tnemyolpme nward ehT naeroK aigroeG
,sraey krow htiw ralloc-etihw erew noitaloiv diaprednu ot yeht eseht seiraidisbus etaps delliks sthgir tnecer .seitinutroppo no sreffo fo fo fo fo fo slanoitan lainem srerutcafunam derul stiuswal .swal robal sboj ni ni ni ,noitargimmi evah evah sroolf delif laredef ekaf yrotcaf gnitiolpxe lauqe sreenigne truoc demialc ,sesac dna dna desucca a ,noweS nacixeM nacixeM ,.dtL XL naeroK aiK nI nI iadnuyH sysuaH aigroeG aigroeG
’srekrow dewov ot meht sevitatneserper ni evah deined dnefed .truoc dna snoitagella tsniaga ynapmoC
snoitaloiv gninrut dlot ot ot ytrap-driht sevlesmeht rieht ro fo gnirutcafunam ytilibail swal robal robal etalusni edisni ylgnisaercni ni noitargimmi evah morf .seitilicaf egreme srotcartnoc seinapmoc esac era setacovda ehT robaL noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ atnaltA
rekrow hcihw elcihev raey-owt ot emit eerht eht taht suoires yniturcs ytefas deweiver sdrocer cilbup revo fo tem tsaf-gninthgil ,seirujni dedulcni .stnedicni ni sah ,emarf s’yrotcaf cirtcele nward shtaed detaler-noitcurtsnoc noitcurtsnoc noitelpmoc yb dna gnidrocca a ehT ,enuJ iadnuyH ,ytnuoC nayrB sA .CJA 51
’srekrow dewov ot meht sevitatneserper ni evah deined dnefed .truoc dna snoitagella tsniaga ynapmoC
snoitaloiv gninrut dlot ot ot ytrap-driht sevlesmeht rieht ro fo gnirutcafunam ytilibail swal robal robal etalusni edisni ylgnisaercni ni noitargimmi evah morf .seitilicaf egreme srotcartnoc seinapmoc esac era setacovda ehT robaL noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ atnaltA
rekrow hcihw elcihev raey-owt ot emit eerht eht taht suoires yniturcs ytefas deweiver sdrocer cilbup revo fo tem tsaf-gninthgil ,seirujni dedulcni .stnedicni ni sah ,emarf s’yrotcaf cirtcele nward shtaed detaler-noitcurtsnoc noitcurtsnoc noitelpmoc yb dna gnidrocca a ehT ,enuJ iadnuyH ,ytnuoC nayrB sA .CJA 51
The Hyundai Metaplant’s construction in Bryan County, which met a lightning-fast two-year completion time frame, has drawn scrutiny over worker safety incidents. (Justin Taylor/The Current GA 2024)
eht dias elor deyalp ni tnatropmi .ytilicaf srotcartnoc na osla knarhcS hannavaS nO ,yadirF
… ehT“ “ dekrow dekrow krow ohw tahw erew saw yteirav ot eht eht eht taht ”,srotcartnocbus .etis .dias tnerap no no fo fo ton tsuj noitagitsevni rof rof yltcaxe seeyolpme tnereffid eunitnoc ,ynapmoc ”.seinapmoc seinapmoc tub osla a eW knarhcS tI )ohw( )detserra(
srekrow krow ohw nehw erew erew .sasiv ot eht eht detals .etis reporp tnalp ,rerutcafunam edam dekcal ni ni senildaeh laredef deyolpme ,reilrae noitcurtsnoc s’ynapmoc tub seitirohtua ta ta detserra detserra rehtona KS KS shtnoM snaeroK naeroK naeroK lanoitanretnI nI noskcaJ-dleifstraH aigroeG ,yrettaB atnaltA tropriA 33 ,0202 31
eht dias elor deyalp ni tnatropmi .ytilicaf srotcartnoc na osla knarhcS hannavaS nO ,yadirF
… ehT“ “ dekrow dekrow krow ohw tahw erew saw yteirav ot eht eht eht taht ”,srotcartnocbus .etis .dias tnerap no no fo fo ton tsuj noitagitsevni rof rof yltcaxe seeyolpme tnereffid eunitnoc ,ynapmoc ”.seinapmoc seinapmoc tub osla a eW knarhcS tI )ohw( )detserra(
srekrow krow ohw nehw erew erew .sasiv ot eht eht detals .etis reporp tnalp ,rerutcafunam edam dekcal ni ni senildaeh laredef deyolpme ,reilrae noitcurtsnoc s’ynapmoc tub seitirohtua ta ta detserra detserra rehtona KS KS shtnoM snaeroK naeroK naeroK lanoitanretnI nI noskcaJ-dleifstraH aigroeG ,yrettaB atnaltA tropriA 33 ,0202 31
ICE custody
esoht eht eht taht dekraps dias diar fo ssam si evah morf noitalacse tnereffid noitatroped yrtnuoc ysrevortnoc dima .adnega ssorca s’pmurT s’yadsruhT knarhcS tnediserP dlanoD
,setis .spohs stnaruatser riaper dediar gnidulcni sah ,smraf seitilicaf noitcurtsnoc otua dna ECI
sihT“ sihT“ erehw erehw tnew ew saw ”.tnarraw pu ot ot meht eht eht taht hcraes .dias dednuor tup detneserp ,sesimerp redro noitarepo no niatbo ton htnomitlum laiciduj noitagitsevni otni ,sweivretni ni noitargimmi evah sah derehtag sklof ,ecnedive ecnedive stnemucod depoleved lanimirc truoc detcudnoc ”,sesub neeb dna dna na stnega a a knarhcS
esoht eht eht taht dekraps dias diar fo ssam si evah morf noitalacse tnereffid noitatroped yrtnuoc ysrevortnoc dima .adnega ssorca s’pmurT s’yadsruhT knarhcS tnediserP dlanoD
,setis .spohs stnaruatser riaper dediar gnidulcni sah ,smraf seitilicaf noitcurtsnoc otua dna ECI
sihT“ sihT“ erehw erehw tnew ew saw ”.tnarraw pu ot ot meht eht eht taht hcraes .dias dednuor tup detneserp ,sesimerp redro noitarepo no niatbo ton htnomitlum laiciduj noitagitsevni otni ,sweivretni ni noitargimmi evah sah derehtag sklof ,ecnedive ecnedive stnemucod depoleved lanimirc truoc detcudnoc ”,sesub neeb dna dna na stnega a a knarhcS
,noinu eht taht .sdiar tnediserp rehto noitarepo fo fo fo si morf deergasid tnereffid ennovY s’yadsruhT snoitazinagrO ssergnoC—robaL lairtsudnI ECI noitaredeF ,skoorB naciremA
sihT“ gnitserrA“ daolkrow ,srekrow srekrow ohw yrt ot yeht rieht rieht rieht eht eht eht taht taht sezirorret detegrat .dias ksir diar gniogno no no fo fo ”,gnivil sevil tsetal ,boj si sesaercni ni tnargimmi tsenoh sah tnemssarah raef seilimaf detiolpxe yreve yreve nrae gniniated yad yad setaerc ”.srekrow-oc ngiapmac nedrub erehpsomta sa era dna dna dna dna na na na snaigroeG skoorB
,noinu eht taht .sdiar tnediserp rehto noitarepo fo fo fo si morf deergasid tnereffid ennovY s’yadsruhT snoitazinagrO ssergnoC—robaL lairtsudnI ECI noitaredeF ,skoorB naciremA
sihT“ gnitserrA“ daolkrow ,srekrow srekrow ohw yrt ot yeht rieht rieht rieht eht eht eht taht taht sezirorret detegrat .dias ksir diar gniogno no no fo fo ”,gnivil sevil tsetal ,boj si sesaercni ni tnargimmi tsenoh sah tnemssarah raef seilimaf detiolpxe yreve yreve nrae gniniated yad yad setaerc ”.srekrow-oc ngiapmac nedrub erehpsomta sa era dna dna dna dna na na na snaigroeG skoorB
The Folkston ICE Processing Center can currently hold up to 1,100 detainees. That number would grow to nearly 3,000 under the county’s revised agreement with ICE. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
ot esoht nekat .dias fo ni evah noitneted deniated retnec neeb na knarhcS tsoM ECI ,notskloF
,raey dluow siht eht taht nalp slaiciffo yldekram esaercni .ytilicaf yticapac ta devorppa a ECI notskloF reilraE ytnuoC notlrahC
dluow htiw pu rednu ot ot eht eht eht naht desiver rebmun ylraen selim dloh worg morf rewef noitneted .seeniated yltnerruc s’ytnuoc retnec nac ,redrob tnemeerga tahT gnittiS .ECI adirolF 000,3 01 001,1
ot esoht nekat .dias fo ni evah noitneted deniated retnec neeb na knarhcS tsoM ECI ,notskloF
,raey dluow siht eht taht nalp slaiciffo yldekram esaercni .ytilicaf yticapac ta devorppa a ECI notskloF reilraE ytnuoC notlrahC
dluow htiw pu rednu ot ot eht eht eht naht desiver rebmun ylraen selim dloh worg morf rewef noitneted .seeniated yltnerruc s’ytnuoc retnec nac ,redrob tnemeerga tahT gnittiS .ECI adirolF 000,3 01 001,1
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He’s been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people’s lives.
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He’s been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people’s lives.
Lautaro Grinspan is an immigration reporter at The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
Lautaro Grinspan is an immigration reporter at The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
