Massive Immigration Raid Detains 475 Workers at Georgia Hyundai Plant, Families Face Crisis

Nearly 500 workers, primarily Korean but also from countries including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela, were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in southeast Georgia, described by U.S. officials as the largest in two decades. Following the raid on September 4, nonprofits like Grow Initiative and Migrant Equity Southeast have been overwhelmed with calls from panicked families seeking assistance and information about their loved ones. Many detained Korean workers have been deported back to South Korea, while numerous non-Korean immigrants remain in legal limbo or unaccounted for, with some having legal authorization to work in the U.S. The raid involved federal agents confiscating workers' cellphones and workers hiding in air ducts, remote areas, and even a sewage pond to avoid capture. Advocates report families are experiencing a heightened crisis, with many desperate for food, housing, and educational resources amid the uncertainty. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not provided clear information on the number of people still detained or their status.