On Thursday, Federal and Immigration Authorities carried out a enforcement operation in a Hyundai facility in Georgia in connection with an investigation into “illegal employment practices and other serious federal crimes” by a spokesman for the immigration and customs authority.
The ICE agents and other federal authorities were involved in the implementation of the company.
Steven Schrank, Special Agent, who is responsible for investigations in Georgia for the home protection examinations, told reporters on Thursday afternoon that the suspected illegal practices on the building location “Multi-Hundert” take place, on which both Hyundai and LG Energy solution build a new battery plant for electric vehicles together.
The facility in the city of Ellabell, about 28 miles west of the city of Savannah, employs around 1,400 people. According to Associated Press, it is one of the largest and top -class production locations in Georgia.
NBC News checked a video published on social media and shows HSI agents on the construction site of Hyundai's Facility in Ellabell. One of the agents can be heard how the employees are communicated that they had a search order for the entire website, and asked for the construction to be “set” immediately.
A worker who was there, whose name is held back, said NBC News that the agents came late Thursday morning and asked everyone on the premises whether they were US citizens.
Other videos in social media agents show workers. In some cases, agents are seen how they ask employees questions and search their bags.
In a statement on NBC News, Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart confirmed the presence of law enforcement authorities at LG Energy Solution and the Hyundai Battery Joint Venture Construction in Bryan County, where Ellabell is located.
“We work with the law enforcement authorities and are obliged to keep all work and immigration regulations,” said Stewart in the explanation.
It remains unclear how many people were taken into custody, but the closet said: “We arrested many people without papers.”
The NBC subsidiary WsAV von Savannah reported that hundreds of hidden law enforcement agencies and Humvees were reportedly observed at the scene. Large buses were also entered in the location.
Mary Beth Kennedy, a spokeswoman for the HL-GA Battery Co., LG Energy Solution and Hyundais Joint Venture, said WSAV in a statement that the company “works with the responsible authorities in terms of activities at our construction site. To support your work, we currently have no further details.
Cabinet added that the examination is expected that it will go beyond Thursday, but did not deliver timeline.
The ICE spokesman added: “This investigation focuses on ensuring the accountability for those who violate the law and maintain the rule of law. Complex cases such as this require strong cooperation and extensive investigative efforts.”
