On September 4, federal immigration agents launched a raid at the construction site of the Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, triggering chaos among workers.
Many panicked, with some climbing fences and others seeking refuge in air ducts, leading one project manager, Kim, to describe the scene as feeling like a ‘war zone.’
‘We thought we came here to help build Georgia’s largest factory. What we faced instead felt like a military raid,’ Kim stated, preferring to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns.
The operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resulted in the detention of 475 workers, including over 300 South Korean nationals, many of whom had entered the U.S. on business or short-term work visas.
What was meant to be a flagship economic development initiative for Georgia has escalated into a significant immigration, political, and diplomatic crisis.
In the aftermath of the raid, community leaders voiced their concerns. Rep. Sam Park (D-GA), the first Korean-American in the Georgia State Legislature, expressed his dismay at the method and scale of the operation.
‘Workers are being punished while political and corporate leaders remain untouched,’ he said during a press conference held by the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta (KAAGA).
Rep. Matt Reeves (R-GA) acknowledged these concerns, calling for transparency and justice, particularly regarding the possibility of wrongful detentions.
Similarly, Rep. Soo Hong (R-GA) issued a statement affirming that the raid was conducted under a judicial warrant and promised to work with federal agencies to ensure fair treatment for all involved.
However, the absence of comments from key political figures, including Governor Brian Kemp and Senator Jon Ossoff, has drawn scrutiny.
Governor Kemp has previously heralded the Hyundai-LG plant as a centerpiece of Georgia’s economic ambitions.
‘Why is he silent now that it’s become a humanitarian crisis?’ remarked a senior official from KAAGA, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
‘When things go wrong, leadership should step up—not disappear.’
The legal implications of the raid are severe.
Many of the detained may face expedited removal under U.S. immigration law, which could lead to deportation without a hearing and impose a minimum five-year reentry ban.
Joshua Wie, an immigration attorney with over two decades of experience supporting Korean immigrants in Georgia, expressed concern about the treatment of detained workers.
‘We are not denying that some visa issues may exist,’ he said. ‘But that does not justify treating engineers and technicians as criminals. This is a legal and humanitarian crisis.’
KAAGA, along with the Korean American Bar Association of Georgia (KABA-GA), are presently coordinating legal aid for the detainees held at the Folkston ICE Processing Center.
Once envisioned as a model of clean energy manufacturing in the Southeast, the Hyundai-LG plant now serves as a stark illustration of divisions within U.S. society—between immigrant communities and law enforcement as well as between American ideals and reality.
‘America wanted our investment,’ said Eun Seok Park, president of KAAGA.
‘Then it must also allow us to bring the people who make that investment possible—skilled personnel with the know-how and tools to get the job done. The visa issue needs to be addressed.’
As legal battles unfold and politicians seek resolutions, the Korean-American community in Georgia faces a tougher challenge ahead: rebuilding the trust that has been severely shaken by this incident.
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