On Thursday, a significant immigration enforcement operation occurred at a joint Hyundai-LG Energy car factory in Ellabell, Georgia, resulting in the arrest of 475 individuals, including approximately 300 South Korean nationals. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrived, leading to confusion among workers who were instructed to cease operations.
The raid began around 10:30 AM, with around 400 state and federal agents surrounding the $7.6 billion factory complex, which had recently opened for electric vehicle assembly. During the operation, some workers attempted to flee, with reports of individuals jumping into a sewage pond. Those detained were processed based on nationality and visa status.
The ICE operation, termed “Operation Low Voltage,” marks one of the largest single-site immigration enforcement actions in the history of Homeland Security investigations. ICE officials indicated that all detained individuals were illegally present in the United States, having entered through various means, including visa overstays and unauthorized border crossings.
Hyundai and LG Energy released a joint statement asserting their cooperation with authorities and stating that construction at the site would be paused. They clarified that none of those detained were directly employed by Hyundai. However, the worker who witnessed the event claimed that many detained workers, employed by a contractor, were mechanics involved in installing production lines.
The incident has raised questions about the implications for workforce compliance in the electric vehicle sector and may influence future foreign investments in the U.S. The local Korean American community has expressed shock over the arrests, and concerns have emerged regarding the potential impact on U.S.-South Korean relations. Further information about the reasons behind the detentions and the status of the workers is awaited from the Department of Homeland Security.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yqg0rln74o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss