Massive Immigration Raid at Georgia Hyundai Plant Leads to 475 Arrests
Massive Immigration Raid at Georgia Hyundai Plant Leads to 475 Arrests
A sprawling Hyundai manufacturing plant in southeast Georgia became the scene of one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent U.S. history on Thursday, resulting in 475 arrests, predominantly Korean nationals. The operation, which involved nearly 500 federal, state, and local officers, targeted a battery production facility currently under construction in Ellabell, roughly 25 miles west of Savannah.
Workers described a tense and chaotic scene as agents swiftly moved through the facility, lining up employees along walls. Word of the raid prompted many to attempt escape, with some reportedly running into a sewage pond and others hiding in air ducts, according to officials and witness accounts. Officers processed workers one by one, determining legal status before taking those without authorization into custody and transporting them to the Folkston ICE Processing Center.
The high-stakes operation was the culmination of a months-long criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other federal crimes, involving multiple agencies including ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. Authorities stated that all 475 individuals detained were illegally in the U.S., with reasons ranging from illegal border crossings to visa overstays or violations of visa waiver programs. Hyundai clarified that they do not believe any direct employees were arrested, emphasizing their commitment to legal compliance among contractors and subcontractors.
The South Korean government has dispatched diplomats to the site and urged the U.S. embassy in Seoul to ensure the rights of Korean citizens are protected. The raid temporarily halted construction at the Hyundai Metaplant, a massive project intended to be the company’s first dedicated fully electrified vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, projected to employ up to 8,500 people upon completion.
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