Special Agent Details Largest Ever HSI Enforcement Operation at Hyundai Facility

Largest HSI Enforcement Operation

• 🎯 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a judicial search warrant at a Hyundai facility in Georgia as part of a multi-month criminal investigation.
• 🚀 This operation, involving numerous law enforcement partners, resulted in the detention of 475 individuals suspected of unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes.
• 📈 The raid is highlighted as the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.

Investigation Details and Scope

• 🔍 The investigation focused on allegations of unlawful employment practices and aimed to protect jobs for legal workers, ensure a level playing field for compliant businesses, safeguard the economy, and protect workers from exploitation.
• 🧩 Evidence was gathered over several months, including interviews and documents, leading to the issuance of a judicial search warrant.
• 🌐 The operation involved a network of subcontractors, indicating a complex web of employment relationships at the site.

Detainee Status and Processing

• ⚖️ Of the 475 individuals encountered, 475 were found to be illegally present in the United States or in violation of their visa status, and were working unlawfully.
• 🇰🇷 A majority of the detained individuals were Korean nationals, though the exact breakdown was not immediately available.
• 🤝 Detained individuals were questioned, their documents and backgrounds checked, and those found to be illegally present were turned over to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody.

Operational Success and Safety

• ✅ The operation was characterized by strong collaboration among multiple agencies including ICE, Department of Labor, FBI, DEA, CBP, ATF, IRS, US Marshals, and Georgia State Patrol.
• 🩹 There were no substantial uses of force or significant injuries reported during the operation; one individual received on-scene treatment for overheating, and one agent sustained a minor laceration.
• ⚠️ The investigation is ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced at this time, with potential consequences for the company yet to be determined.

Broader Implications

• 🗣️ The operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the workforce, undermine the economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable.
• 📈 HSI has been monitoring reporting and receiving leads from the community and former workers, which contributed to the development of this investigation.
• 🕵️‍♀️ The investigation is also exploring potential evidence of labor trafficking, which is a standard component of such employment investigations.