By RUSS BYNUM

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — U.S. immigration authorities on Thursday raided the sprawling site where Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles in southeast Georgia, conducting a search that shut down construction on an adjacent factory being built to produce EV batteries.

Related Articles

Immigrant pleads guilty to being in US illegally after judge allegedly helped him evade agents

Trump-backed plan to redraw Missouri congressional districts draws opposition at first hearing

Trump’s promised immigration crackdown in Chicago could last about six weeks, suburban official says

US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meeting

Joe Biden undergoes surgery to remove skin cancer on forehead

The operation targeted one of Georgia’s largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites, touted by the governor and other officials as the largest economic development project in the state’s history. Hyundai Motor Group began manufacturing EVs a year ago at the $7.6 billion plant, which employs about 1,200 people.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Lindsay Williams confirmed that federal authorities were conducting an enforcement operation at the 3,000-acre site west of Savannah. He said agents were focused on the construction site for the battery plant.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.” It did not say whether anyone was detained or arrested.

Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads to the Hyundai site. The Georgia Department of Public Safety confirmed they were dispatched to assist federal authorities.

Video posted to social media Thursday showed workers in yellow safety vests lined up as a man wearing a face mask and a tactical vest with the letters HSI, which stands for Homeland Security Investigations, tells them: “We’re Homeland Security. We have a search warrant for the whole site.”

“We need construction to cease immediately,” the man says. “We need all work to end on the site right now.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has undertaken sweeping ICE operations as part of a mass deportation agenda. Immigration officers have raided farms, construction sites, restaurants and auto repair shops.

The Pew Research Center, citing preliminary Census Bureau data, says the U.S. labor force lost more than 1.2 million immigrants from January through July. That includes people who are in the country illegally as well as legal residents.

In addition to making electric vehicles at the site facing Interstate 16 in Bryan County, Hyundai has also partnered with LG Energy Solution to build the battery plant. It’s slated to open sometime next year.

The joint venture, HL-GA Battery Company, “is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities,” the company said in a statement. “To assist their work, we have paused construction.”

Operations at Hyundai’s EV manufacturing plant weren’t interrupted, said plant spokesperson Bianca Johnson.

“This did not impact people getting to work,” Johnson said in an email. “Production and normal office hours had already begun for the day” when authorities shut down access.

By TODD RICHMOND

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An immigrant who allegedly evaded federal agents with the help of a Milwaukee County judge pleaded guilty Thursday to being in the U.S. illegally.

Related Articles

Trump-backed plan to redraw Missouri congressional districts draws opposition at first hearing

Trump’s promised immigration crackdown in Chicago could last about six weeks, suburban official says

US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meeting

Joe Biden undergoes surgery to remove skin cancer on forehead

10 Alaskans born in American Samoa face voting charges in a case highlighting citizenship issues

Federal prosecutors charged Eduardo Flores-Ruiz in April with reentering the country illegally after being deported. He faces up to two years in prison when he’s sentenced and agreed to be deported whenever he is released, according to a summary of the plea deal he reached with prosecutors.

Online court records did not list a sentencing date. His attorney, Martin J. Pruhs, didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Thursday afternoon seeking comment.

According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz first entered the United States illegally near Nogales, Arizona, in January 2013. He was arrested the next day and deported. He subsequently returned to the U.S. without permission and was charged this past March in Milwaukee with misdemeanor domestic battery.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents learned Flores-Ruiz was in the country after the Milwaukee County jail submitted his fingerprints to federal databases. Agents traveled to the county courthouse on April 18, planning to arrest him as he appeared for a hearing in the case.

Judge Hannah Dugan, who was presiding over the battery case, learned that agents were in the building looking for Flores-Ruiz. According to an FBI affidavit, witnesses heard Dugan say something to the effect of “wait, come with me” to Flores-Ruiz and his attorney before showing them out a courtroom door typically used only by deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants. Flores-Ruiz made his way outside the building, but agents captured him following a foot chase.

The FBI arrested Dugan in April and a federal grand jury indicted her weeks later on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The state Supreme Court suspended her from the bench after her arrest.

Dugan has argued that she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and is therefore immune from prosecution. She’s set to stand trial in December and faces up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts.

Dugan’s arrest and indictment intensified a clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the Republican’s sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats accused the Trump administration of trying to make an example of Dugan to blunt judicial opposition to the crackdown.

Flores-Ruiz still faces three misdemeanor counts of domestic battery in Milwaukee County. He is set to stand trial in that case on Oct. 13.

UCare is looking to suspend its Medicare Advantage offerings, the insurer announced Thursday.

UCare, a Minneapolis-based health insurance nonprofit, made a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “to mutually terminate its Medicare Advantage product offerings for 2026,” according to a news release from the insurer.

“This decision was not made lightly,” said Hilary Marden-Resnik, UCare president and CEO, in the release. “UCare remains deeply committed to the health of Minnesotans and to supporting members through upcoming transitions.”

UCare currently has 158,000 Medicare Advantage members and is the second-largest Medicare Advantage carrier in the market with 26% market share, according to the release.

The nonprofit cites the cost of health care and increasing challenges of the overall market in its decision. “To maintain financial stability and continue providing quality, affordable coverage, UCare is aiming to focus its resources on programs where it can have the most impact,” the release states.

Pending approval of the request, impacted members would need to select new coverage during the upcoming annual enrollment period. Medical Assistance (Medicaid), MinnesotaCare, Special Needs Plans, individual and family plans and Medicare Supplement will still be offered.

The change will affect 9% of UCare’s workforce, per the release.

Thursday’s announcement comes just two months after the insurer announced its plans to withdraw from non-senior Medicaid coverage in Ramsey County and 11 others, affecting 88,000 members.

Founded in 1984 by physicians from the University of Minnesota, today UCare serves more than 600,000 members throughout Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.

Related Articles

Florida’s vaccine mandate removal: What it means for public health

LSD shows promise for reducing anxiety in drugmaker’s midstage study

What polls show about Americans’ views on childhood vaccine mandates

Yes, weighted vests can help amp up your workout. Here’s what to know

Kennedy tries to defend COVID-19 vaccine stance in raucous Senate hearing

As the Vikings continued their prep for the Chicago Bears on Monday night at Soldier Field, they continue to do so without safety Harrison Smith and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Though both players have been around their teammates as they work their way back into the mix, neither Smith (illness) nor Darrisaw (knee) participated in practice on Thursday afternoon at TCO Performance Center.

Will either of them play for the Vikings on Monday Night Football? The answer to that question is very unclear at this point.

A source told the Pioneer Press that Smith has been dealing with a “personal health issue” since the middle of training camp. Even if it causes him to miss some time for the Vikings, it’s not expected to keep him out long term.

As for Darrisaw, he’s nearing the final stages of the recovery process, and the Vikings are seemingly being cautious with him 10 months removed from him tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

“We’re going to give him every opportunity to practice and see how he feels,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said earlier this week. “Ultimately, in regards to his availability, we will make that decision as this week progresses.”

The rest of the injury report for the Vikings included running back Zavier Scott (ankle) and defensive tackle Elijah Williams (hamstring) listed as non participants, and receiver Jalen Nailor (hand) and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) listed as full participants.

Related Articles

Why the Vikings completely revamped their defensive line

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 1: Make room for wild cards

As he starts his career with the Vikings, Max Brosmer still isn’t satisfied

Meet the undrafted free agents who made the Vikings’ roster

Anthony Barr retires with Vikings after finding a home in Minnesota