ICE Conducts Major Raid at Hyundai’s Metaplant in Georgia
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently executed a significant immigration enforcement operation at Hyundai’s Metaplant America located in Georgia. This operation has led to the detention of 475 undocumented immigrants, marking it as the most extensive single-site enforcement action in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.
The raid occurred at the Ellabell facility in Bryan County, described as part of “an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal offenses,” according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Most of those detained were reportedly Korean nationals, who had either entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas, as noted by Steven Schrank, a special agent with DHS Investigations.
“This, in fact, was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations,” Schrank confirmed.
During the operation, several individuals attempted to escape, with some even running into a sewage pond on the premises. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia reported that agents had to use a boat to retrieve them. Interestingly, one person even tried to flip the boat over but didn’t succeed. These individuals were identified as illegal workers.
The White House later commented on the raid, stressing that any foreign workers involved in specific projects must enter the U.S. legally and possess proper work authorizations.
Meanwhile, the operation could escalate tensions between Washington and Seoul, especially considering South Korea’s commitment of $150 billion in investments in the U.S., which includes $26 billion from Hyundai Motor.
The battery manufacturing facility is part of Hyundai’s significant $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, which also encompasses a newly established car factory.
In response to the raid, Hyundai stated it is “closely monitoring the situation,” claiming that those detained were employed by various contractors rather than being directly hired by Hyundai Motor Company.
Furthermore, the South Korean foreign ministry expressed its “concerns and regret” regarding the immigration operation. A spokesperson emphasized that “the economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated.”
