Mass arrests of South Korean nationals during a US immigration sweep
In a significant operation, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted the largest single site enforcement operation in the agency's two-decade history at a Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing site in Georgia. Over 300 South Korean nationals were among the 475 people detained.
The Hyundai site, located in Bryan County, a rural area about 25 miles west of Savannah, started manufacturing EVs a year ago and employs about 1,200 people. The county saw its population increase significantly in the early 2020s and had nearly 47,000 residents in 2023.
Most of the detained workers were of Korean nationality. According to ICE, during the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2024, only 46 Koreans were deported out of more than 270,000 removals for all nationalities. Some of the detained workers had illegally crossed the US border, while others had entered the country legally but had expired visas or had entered on a visa waiver that prohibited them from working.
The South Korean government has expressed "concern and regret" over the operation targeting its citizens and is sending diplomats to the site. Many of the families of the detainees are in South Korea since many of the detainees were in the United States only for business purposes.
The raid received mixed reactions from community members and advocates, with some expressing concern about the impact on local businesses and employment opportunities. Agents sought employment records, timecards, videos, and photos of workers during the investigation.
The manufacturing site targeted in the raid is one of Georgia's largest and most high-profile, operated by Hyundai Motor Group. The specific focus of the raid was on an adjacent plant under construction, where Hyundai has partnered with LG Energy Solution to produce batteries for EVs. Some of the detained workers were employed by the battery plant operated by HL-GA Battery Co, while others worked for contractors and subcontractors at the construction site.
The Asian population in the county increased from 1.5% in 2018 to 2.2% in 2023, with growth primarily among people of Indian descent, according to Census Bureau figures. Family members and friends of the detainees are having a hard time locating them or figuring out how to get in touch with them.
One of the detained workers was a lawful permanent resident who was kept in custody for having a prior record involving firearm and drug offenses. The companies or contractors potentially involved in the illegal recruitment of workers at the Hyundai site in Georgia have not been publicly disclosed or confirmed.
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