U.S. immigration enforcement authorities have released photos from an operation targeting undocumented immigration and employment at the construction site of a joint battery plant between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia, conducted on September 4th (local time), via their website. Yonhap News. 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Georgia field office, which led the immigration enforcement at the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia, emphasized that undocumented immigrants are subject to deportation and arrest regardless of their criminal history.

On the 23rd (local time), local media outlet 'Savannah Morning News' reported this, citing Lindsay Williams, a public information officer for ICE's Georgia field office. In an interview with the media, Williams stated, "If you are in this country illegally, it doesn't matter if that person is a valedictorian, a doctor, a lawyer, a pizza cook, or a community leader," and added, "When an undocumented individual encounters ICE, you are subject to arrest and deportation."

Williams further stated that if "undocumented immigrants" (individuals without legal residency status or whose period of stay has expired) are found with the originally targeted individuals during an operation, "everyone will be arrested."

This announcement from ICE appears to be an attempt to legitimize the unusual arrest of approximately 300 Koreans that occurred on the 4th. Previously, on the 4th (local time), U.S. ICE conducted a joint immigration enforcement operation at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant (HL-GA Battery Company) in Georgia, arresting 475 individuals. Among the arrested, Koreans were the largest group with around 300 individuals. However, the arrest warrants presented by ICE only contained photos and names of four individuals of South American descent, with no Korean names listed.

A significant number of the Koreans arrested at the time maintained that their arrests and detentions were unjust, stating they were working within the scope of their visas.

Williams stated that the operations are conducted based on "credible information" and that targets include not only criminals but also those whose visa periods have expired and unregistered immigrants.

Regarding the selection of arrest targets, he explained, "ICE internal informants utilize all means to determine the whereabouts of the day's targets," adding, "There are many reasons why individuals are detected by our intelligence network." However, he did not provide specific details on the methods used to investigate undocumented immigrants.

ICE stated that it conducts joint operations with the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) during undocumented immigrant arrest operations. "HSI agents conduct criminal investigations on individuals who have illegally crossed the border, while ERO is responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and deporting individuals whose immigration status is not registered," he explained.

He mentioned methods of enforcement such as raiding the residences of targets for arrest and apprehending individuals at their workplaces during commutes. ICE also added that it "mobilizes all means, including drones," for undocumented immigrant arrest operations.

An arrest warrant presented by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the operation at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia on September 4th (local time). The warrant lists the names of only four individuals of South American descent, with no Korean names included. Yonhap News. 

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