US immigration authorities have raided a massive Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia, leading to the arrest of over 450 people, according to one of the agencies involved in the operation. The 3,000-acre site, constructed by the Korean automobile manufacturer to make electric vehicles, has been operational for a year.
The Department of Homeland Security informed CBS News that agents executed a search warrant due to allegations of 'unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes'. Among those detained were Korean nationals, prompting the South Korean foreign ministry to label the action as an 'unjust infringement' of their rights.
The Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which participated in the arrest operation, reported the detentions of 450 'unlawful aliens' at the plant in Bryan County via a post on X. However, the specific number of South Koreans detained remains unclear.
The South Korean foreign ministry expressed concern that the rights and interests of Korean citizens should not be compromised during U.S. law enforcement efforts, dispatching diplomats to the site to monitor the situation. Additionally, their concerns were conveyed to the U.S Embassy in Korea, urging caution to ensure no infringement on the rights of Korean nationals.
Korean companies, including Hyundai, have made substantial commitments to invest in U.S. industries to circumvent tariffs. The state’s governor, Brian Kemp, previously described Hyundai’s electric vehicle operation as Georgia's largest economic development project, creating around 1,200 jobs. Furthermore, the search also halted construction on a nearby battery plant, highlighting the operation's broad implications.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of previous U.S. immigration policies that have focused on mass deportations, particularly under former President Trump's administration, which prioritized the removal of undocumented individuals with criminal records.
The Department of Homeland Security informed CBS News that agents executed a search warrant due to allegations of 'unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes'. Among those detained were Korean nationals, prompting the South Korean foreign ministry to label the action as an 'unjust infringement' of their rights.
The Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which participated in the arrest operation, reported the detentions of 450 'unlawful aliens' at the plant in Bryan County via a post on X. However, the specific number of South Koreans detained remains unclear.
The South Korean foreign ministry expressed concern that the rights and interests of Korean citizens should not be compromised during U.S. law enforcement efforts, dispatching diplomats to the site to monitor the situation. Additionally, their concerns were conveyed to the U.S Embassy in Korea, urging caution to ensure no infringement on the rights of Korean nationals.
Korean companies, including Hyundai, have made substantial commitments to invest in U.S. industries to circumvent tariffs. The state’s governor, Brian Kemp, previously described Hyundai’s electric vehicle operation as Georgia's largest economic development project, creating around 1,200 jobs. Furthermore, the search also halted construction on a nearby battery plant, highlighting the operation's broad implications.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of previous U.S. immigration policies that have focused on mass deportations, particularly under former President Trump's administration, which prioritized the removal of undocumented individuals with criminal records.
