Hyundai plant hit in major Trump immigration raid, half staff caught
Almost 500 individuals were arrested in a major Homeland Security operation at a Hyundai factory in Georgia, marking the largest raid of its kind in US history. The operation resulted in the detention of 475 immigrants suspected of working illegally in the US, with the majority being from Korea, out of the factory's 1200 workers. The special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, Steven Schrank, stated that no criminal charges had been filed yet and that the raid followed a lengthy investigation into the facility.
The enforcement action at the Hyundai factory was described as the largest at a single site in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. Schrank emphasized the operation's aim to protect jobs for Americans, ensure fair competition for law-abiding businesses, uphold the economy's integrity, and prevent worker exploitation. The raid occurred shortly after the Trump administration announced plans to increase deportation efforts, potentially affecting thousands of Venezuelans by terminating their temporary protection status.
The mass arrests of Korean nationals led to a diplomatic dispute, prompting South Korea's Foreign Ministry to send officials to the factory and urge the US Embassy in Seoul to safeguard the rights and interests of Korean citizens during law enforcement operations. Following the raid, the detainees were set to be transferred to an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, near the state line with Florida, with further relocation based on individual circumstances.
The president of Georgia's AFL-CIO chapter, Yvonne Brooks, criticized the raid as politically motivated and part of a broader campaign targeting immigrant workers. Brooks condemned the operation for instilling fear among workers and their families, as well as increasing the burden on their colleagues. The Hyundai factory, a significant economic project in Georgia valued at over $7.6 billion, employed around 1,200 people and had recently started manufacturing electric vehicles before construction was halted due to the raid.