Massive ICE Raid Nets Hundreds at Hyundai-LG Battery Plant
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), recently implemented what it calls its largest single-location operation to date. This resulted in the arrest of 475 individuals at a battery plant being built in Georgia in collaboration between Hyundai and LG. Code-named ‘Operation Low Voltage,’ the industrial site witnessed an extensive surprise inspection conducted by HSI agents in large numbers.
This operation didn’t happen spontaneously; it was the culmination of months of meticulous planning. It isn’t every day that an enforcement operation of this scale takes place. Margaret Heap, the United States Attorney, spoke of both the magnitude and significance of the operation, which involved over 400 agents.
Heap articulated that this colossal undertaking yielded sizable results, wherein more than 400 unauthorized employees were identified and taken into custody. The enforcement operation’s primary objectives were clear: it aimed to mitigate unlawful employment practices and prevent businesses from obtaining an unjust edge by employing unauthorized labor.
Moreover, an additional objective was to safeguard these unauthorized workers from potential exploitation. The operation wasn’t without its dramatic moments: upon seeing law enforcement agents, several individuals attempted to flee the premises through a nearby sewage pond.
Officers reacted promptly, utilizing boats to pull these individuals out of the murky waters. In one startling instance, an individual attempted to capsize a law enforcement vessel by diving underneath it, showing the desperate measures some tried to evade capture.
Notably, Hyundai inaugurated its 3,000-acre EV factory, named Metaplant, in the same Georgia region just a few months ago. Meanwhile, right next door, another joint venture between Hyundai and LG to construct a battery factory is progressing. These ventures are elements of an investment package worth $12.6 billion that Hyundai has committed to pour into the state.
The investment initiative was lauded as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ by Iran Kemp. The South Korean government, however, has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the operative. A diplomatic delegation was dispatched to Georgia from South Korea to protect its citizens’ rights and assist them.
In a statement, South Korea’s foreign ministry emphasized the need to uphold the economic pursuits of South Korean investments and the rights of South Korean nationals during American law enforcement actions. The ministry stressed that their citizens’ rights and interests should never be unjustly compromised.
To add to this, an official pointed out that some of those apprehended were in the U.S. on valid visas, causing further consternation. There have been reports suggesting that several staff members of LG Energy Solution who were visiting from South Korea were unfortunately nabbed during the sweep.
The situation is now under close observation, with attempts being made to gather all pertinent information about the operation and its impact on individuals. Ensuring the safety and welfare of employees and partners has been stated as the primary concern. Full cooperation will be provided to the relevant authorities during the investigation.