Photo of U.S. immigration authorities' raid on Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions [ICE website]

U.S. immigration enforcement authorities on the 4th (local time) released videos and photos from an illegal stay and employment crackdown at the construction site of Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution's joint battery plant in Georgia, through their website.

On the 6th, a press release titled "ICE Led Joint Operation Against Illegal Employment and Federal Crimes in Georgia" was posted on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website.

Four photos of the crackdown site and a 2-minute and 34-second video were included.

The video began with scenes of military vehicles, multiple vehicles, and a helicopter entering the site.

Authorities explained that this operation was conducted jointly by various agencies, including the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Georgia State Patrol, in addition to ICE.

Then, about ten DEA agents in uniform were seen waiting outside the building, holding what appeared to be bundles of ties for restraining hands.

Photo of U.S. immigration authorities' raid on Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions [ICE website]

Following that, although the faces of the site employees, who were moving according to the instructions of the enforcement agents, were mosaicked, the vests of some employees shown in the video had names suspected to be affiliated company names, such as DSK Mechanic, HL-GA Battery Company, and LG CNS, written on them.

Suspected Korean site worker being apprehended in handcuffs [ICE video capture]

The video continued with scenes of enforcement agents securing the hands and legs of site employees, who were lined up with their hands on a bus, with chains and then escorting them onto the bus.

A scene was also captured where two employees, believed to be from third countries such as Central and South America, were in a pond within the premises and enforcement agents brought them out.

ICE stated that 475 people were detained in this operation, and "many of them were abusing visitor visas."

They added, "The arrested individuals were confirmed to have illegally worked in violation of their visa conditions," and "Holders of short-term stay visas or tourist visas cannot work in the United States."

They also stated, "A permanent resident from Mexico was arrested based on multiple criminal convictions, and was deemed deportable."

U.S. authorities stated that they arrested 475 people in this crackdown, and the majority of them were Korean nationals. Among them, about 300 are believed to be Korean.

LG Energy Solution announced on this day that about 300 employees from their company and its partners were detained.

Scene of U.S. immigration authorities' raid on Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions [ICE video capture]

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