Fuyao Glass, based in Montgomery County, Ohio, has faced scrutiny from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly employing undocumented workers and has historically maintained close ties to the Chinese government.
In July of last year, ICE conducted an investigation regarding hundreds of workers who were reportedly smuggled into the U.S. and subjected to conditions akin to slavery while working for various manufacturers.
Glass manufacturing companies have been implicated in the investigation of human smuggling operations, which also involves financial crimes, according to federal officials.
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS Criminal Investigation were probing allegations of labor exploitation and financial misconduct, leading them to Fuyao and other local businesses in Ohio.
Fuyao Glass was established in 2014 when Chinese owners acquired a General Motors glass factory after it was closed. The deal included a $200 million contract to run the factory in Moraine, near Dayton.
After opening, the factory was featured in a documentary produced by the Obamas’ production company. The film received an Oscar nomination in 2019 and won an award at the 2020 Oscars, which perhaps isn’t too surprising.
Following this, the company claimed it was targeted due to a staffing agency accused of hiring illegal immigrants from China. Yet, there seemed to be an underlying question regarding the federal investigation’s broader implications.
According to Springfield News Sun, many undocumented workers ceased attending their jobs shortly before the July 2024 raid. Around that time, approximately 100 new workers with Chinese backgrounds began arriving in unmarked vans soon after federal agents left the site.
In addition to these investigations into money laundering and human trafficking, Chinese-owned companies face other serious issues that haven’t been fully disclosed.
For instance, in an interview in 2023, Fuyao’s Chairman Cao Dewang demonstrated loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party, discussing a university he established in Fuzhou, China. He mentioned, “The government has great respect for me. They appointed me as chairman for a decade. I plan to create a sustainable management system for 10 years. While the schools belong to the government, I will manage them directly under the Charity Act.”
Furthermore, a report from the Made in China Journal indicates that a significant portion of Dewang’s company’s leadership comprises Communist Party members, noting that “over 70% of party members occupy key positions in management or technical leadership roles.”
Ultimately, while praised by the Obamas, Fuyao Glass has struggled with allegations regarding illegal employment practices and its substantial ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
