ICE Called on the Hyundai Plant in Georgia

BY: NICANOR MAINA/STAFF WRITER

(Photo Credit: CNN)

South Korean Companies LG and Hyundai have been developing a new electric vehicle and battery plant in Savannah, Georgia. Earlier this month, several government agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia State Patrol, Homeland Security, and ICE, conducted an immigration raid on the site. 

This was the largest single-site immigration raid since Trump became president, according to Homeland Security. Over 475 individuals were detained, most of whom were from South Korea. The implications of this may change the way the United States government and the South Korean Government interact with each other, and could signal a new relationship dynamic between the U.S. and the rest of the world. 

In previous years, Georgia has welcomed many international companies to start factories and prosper. These “green” and “clean” companies benefit from democratic policies while also receiving republican backing for providing more jobs in the state. The construction of the plant was split between the Biden and the Trump administrations. The factory was built with the intent to not only bring jobs into Georgia but also help limit the amount of tariffs on LG and Hyundai. 

This is one of the largest investments and the largest construction sites in Georgia’s history. Where the majority of the workers are immigrants, when it comes to this specific plant, things get mixed, as the people who were brought to help set up the factory had valid visas. Their intended role was to come and help build the foundation of the factory, as they are trained professionals. 

The factory had backing from Gov. Brian Kemp and other officials. However, the situation escalated when ICE was called on this plant by a failed congresswoman, Tori Branum. With the belief that they were taking away jobs from the union workers, and that the people working in said plant were working illegally. This would stem the ICE raid and the closure of the facility temporarily. 

Shortly after the raid, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in a press briefing, called the situation baffling and warned that it could push away other Korean companies from coming to the United States, with Varying news outlets reporting that these workers were offered a stay in the U.S. by President Donald Trump to help and train incoming workers to the factory. Only 1 out of the 300 South Koreans stayed behind to help. 

 The plant has since been shut down indefinitely, resulting in massive economic losses for both Georgia and the U.S. economy.

Below is a brief rundown of the current situation:

• Hyundai Motor Group had pledged around $7.6 billion for the assembly plant.

• LG Energy Solution added to that investment, bringing the total project value to $12.6 billion.

• The plant was projected to create 8,500 direct jobs.

• A study from the Center for Automotive Research estimated the project would ultimately generate nearly 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.

• Hyundai’s investments were expected to contribute $4.6 billion in annual earnings.

• An additional $2.5 billion in investments had already been announced by suppliers, bringing more jobs to the region

  
  

All of that is now on hold, or possibly lost. On the day of the raid, Chul-yong, one of the detained workers, described the moment to the BBC:

“We just came out for a brief break, and I could see a lot of people—officials with guns. As Koreans, we just thought they were here to arrest criminals, but then, they suddenly started arresting us."

Even workers who presented valid visas were detained. Many reported being shackled at the wrists and ankles.

Youngjin, an engineer and subcontractor for LG, described having a panic attack in a cold detention facility. He said the water “smelled like sewage,” and there was nowhere to sleep—he ended up finding a corner on the floor. At the time of his detention, his 90-day visa was still valid.

“I was wearing short sleeves, so I put my arms inside my clothes and wrapped myself in a towel to try to stay warm at night.” He continued, “The worst part was the water. It smelled like sewage. We drank as little as possible.”

This is an ongoing story. As more details come to light, the legal, political, and diplomatic fallout could reshape how foreign companies view investing in the United States.