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Inside the raid: How a monthslong federal immigration operation led to 475 arrests at a Hyundai plant in Georgia
cnn.com ^ | September 6, 2025 | Alaa Elassar , Isabel Rosales , Caroll Alvarado , CNN

Posted on 09/06/2025 2:05:15 PM PDT by ransomnote

A sprawling Hyundai manufacturing plant in a quiet southeast Georgia community became ground zero on Thursday for one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent US history. The operation, months in the making, ended with 475 arrests, most of them Korean nationals.

As state troopers blocked roads leading to the plant and set up a security perimeter, nearly 500 federal, state and local officers poured into the sprawling battery production facility, still under construction.

Agents moved swiftly, lining up workers along the walls. Word of the raid spread across the property, triggering a scramble among workers who attempted to flee, with some running to a sewage pond and others hiding in air ducts.

SNIP

During the raid, several people tried to flee, including some who “ran into a sewage pond located on the premises,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia said.

“Agents used a boat to fish them out of the water. One of the individuals swam under the boat and tried to flip it over to no avail,” the US Attorney’s Office said. “These people were captured and identified as illegal workers.”

SNIP

All 475 people taken into custody were illegally in the US, said Steven Schrank, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge. Some crossed into the US illegally, some had visa waivers and were prohibited from working, and some had overstayed their visas, he said.

SNIP

Over 300 of the people arrested were South Korean, Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun said on Saturday.

SNIP

Schrank noted some of the workers may have been contractors or subcontractors. A Hyundai spokesperson told CNN he does not believe anyone arrested was a direct employee of Hyundai Motor Company.  


(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: illegaltruth
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Lots of infuriating little nuggets throughout the article.

All 475 were here illegally, some without documents, some with expired documents, some allowed to be in the US but prohibited from working. Hyundai stressed it has a 'Zero Tolerance' policy for law breakers and others note these are likely subcontractors being arrested.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung stressed he's pulling out all the stops to address this matter and is willing to personally travel to D.C. to resolve it.

The Korean Ambassador in Atlanta is stressing they have rights as do Korean businesses in the US. The American Embassy in Seoul urged the US to exercise 'extreme caution' in regards to the rights of the Koreans arrested. Perhaps they are afraid Trump will send them to the same itty bitty South African nation to which Abrego Garcia is destined.

A spokesman said America wants to convey the message -those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable.”

A small contingent of idiots showed up to protest, yelling “Get your ICE out of Savannah!” and holding signs reading “ICE GO HOME.”

Governor Brian Kemp showed up to assert that in Georgia they always enforce the law, specifically naming State and Federal Immigration laws.

Perhaps this outburst of stupidity is the abundant harvest of the crops Trump sowed by sending people out of the US for detention, placing troops in hot spots etc. They don't want his attention on them.

1 posted on 09/06/2025 2:05:15 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: ransomnote

If you believe this government.


2 posted on 09/06/2025 2:14:17 PM PDT by babble-on
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To: All

FTA-——

All 475 people taken into custody were illegally in the US, said Steven
Schrank, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge.
<><>Some crossed into the US illegally,
<><>some had visa waivers and were prohibited from working,
<><>and some had overstayed their visas.


3 posted on 09/06/2025 2:14:43 PM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil kno ws you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: ransomnote
Alaa Elassar , Isabel Rosales , Caroll Alvarado , CNN

How close is that Hyundai plant to CNN's hq in Atlanta? Could save taxpayers money on ICE Agents' per diem by swinging by.

4 posted on 09/06/2025 2:15:48 PM PDT by Texas Eagle ("Throw me to the wolves and I'll return leading the pack"- Donald J. Trump)
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To: ransomnote
I think Korea should exercise 'extreme caution' in regards to US laws

And should be informed that the rights of Koreans and Korean businesses do not include violating US laws.

5 posted on 09/06/2025 2:18:03 PM PDT by Savage Beast (NOTHING enkindles anger, hate, violence, and murderous fury like Truth threatening guarded delusion.)
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To: ransomnote

This is happening everywhere, in every state in the country.

This is just a surface scratch.

These same people then try and throw shade at the lazy American workers whom through their business prsctices like this, never intended to hire them in the first place.


6 posted on 09/06/2025 2:19:14 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: ransomnote

AMERICANS need those jobs, NOT South Koreans, I dont care if you are from South Korea, Mexico, etc, if you are here illegally you have ZERO right to be here. Now that plant has 475 jobs available for AMERICANS to do so that will boost the economy


7 posted on 09/06/2025 2:21:02 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: ransomnote

No preamble. No hints. No warning (other than ICE being busy lately).

They just went in and did it.


8 posted on 09/06/2025 2:23:20 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Sarah Barracuda
There are even more illegals hiding in plain sight, with green cards and social security cards, drivers licenses etc,:
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Q ~ Trust Trump's Plan ~ 08/01/2025 Vol.510, Q Day 2835, ransomnote wrote:

I recently watched part of a video about a shadow network operating in a Costco (might be Riverside California) with managers and employees having roles in the 2nd business manufacturing fake ID's. 900+ employees of that Costco were detained and there are remarks about how authentic the documents they made looked. Some used the same technology or paper stock as the DMV and could make the 'authentic' holographic mark on documents. 

Mind blowing. There were some comments below, including on that noted Corporate HQ would have to know of a business this size and proficiency operating within that Costco location.

What about other Costco's around the country? I wonder how many employed right now got a job via professional looking ID? I think the video said something like 40% of Costco's employees obtained work using these fake ID's. Well before I go too much further I should look for verification elsewhere, but I think the MSM and California officials are probably trying to keep a lid on it, especially with Trump talking about having troops 'visit' CA.

I wonder if this is a big part of why the Dems don't want Voter ID. If any fakes are detected it will trigger a purge of voters/employees using fake ID's from the rolls, in addition to those who haven't purchased fake documents.

Today I read that Section 8 housing is going to expel non citizens, and what about the ones using fake ID's. The prices vary from $250 to over $1500 (green card) and buyers have to pay regular intervals to keep their ID up to date.

The scale of the operation  - it makes me wonder how many Costcos or other businesses are involved. How many illegals are walking around with 'good' fake ID's?

I put my notes at the link and hope to finish them and post them as a thread. (*adds to todo list*)


9 posted on 09/06/2025 2:26:05 PM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

475 Americans OFF welfare or unemplyment is the bigger boost.
Of course all of this enforcement only began AFTER I gave up left the labor force.


10 posted on 09/06/2025 2:26:21 PM PDT by Ex gun maker. (Free thinking is now a radical concept, I will not be assimilated by PC or EV group-think!)
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To: ransomnote

Thank you, Department of Homeland Security and ICE specifically. Poor Kemp, trying to save face. He’s been outed and so has our AG.


11 posted on 09/06/2025 2:31:14 PM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

AMERICANS need those jobs, NOT South Koreans, I dont care if you are from South Korea, Mexico, etc, if you are here illegally you have ZERO right to be here. Now that plant has 475 jobs available for AMERICANS to do so that will boost the economy
*******
Amen


12 posted on 09/06/2025 2:32:00 PM PDT by yldstrk
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To: ransomnote

I did a little digging and it appears they may have been involved in the construction of a battery plant run by LG.

The South Korean government has a lot of gall talking about these people’s “rights,” especially since some of the most restrictive immigration laws in the world are in Asia, including South Korea.


13 posted on 09/06/2025 2:37:27 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (God save the United States!)
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To: ransomnote

Time to bring our troops in South Korea home. If South Korea wants to cheat us, then we have no business defending them from China and their puppet state.


14 posted on 09/06/2025 2:48:23 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: ransomnote

Those are not the actions of someone whose company in Korea filed for the wrong type of visa. If you were only supposed to deliver and install a new piece of equipment but you stayed a couple extra weeks for training and overseeing the first production on it, would you run through a sewer pond to escape ICE?


15 posted on 09/06/2025 2:50:20 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (I refuse to call the left "progressive" because I do not see slavery to the government as progress.)
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To: ransomnote

We’re going to have to make illegals like stolen property: If you possess it, you’re guilty of a crime.

If you posses a LOT of it, you’re a felonious fence...or a thief.

ZERO layers of deniability.


16 posted on 09/06/2025 2:51:00 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Ex gun maker.
If enough Americans don't show up for the jobs, have to stop all government money and benefits to local able bodied and able minded people until the jobs are filled.

Some people need a little motivation, like starvation to encourage them to behave.

17 posted on 09/06/2025 2:52:47 PM PDT by Mogger ( 7th generation Vermonter, refugee in New Hampshire hoping NH remains sane.)
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To: Southside_Chicago_Republican

The South Korean government has a lot of gall talking about these people’s “rights,” especially
since some of the most restrictive immigration laws in the world are in Asia, including South Korea.


N-i-c-e comeback.


18 posted on 09/06/2025 2:55:28 PM PDT by Liz (May you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil kno ws you're dead (Irish blessing))
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To: ransomnote

Facebook says the illegals were being trafficked, living packed into small spaces, some weren’t making any money. Asian slaves.


19 posted on 09/06/2025 3:30:16 PM PDT by yldstrk
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To: Mogger

Higher wages are the motivation in a market economy.


20 posted on 09/06/2025 3:42:28 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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