Leaked Doc: Hyundai Raid Worker Detained Despite Valid Visa

Last Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led a raid at the Hyundai battery factory under construction in Ellabell, near Savannah, Georgia, arresting nearly 500 people, the majority of whom were from South Korea. This operation was part of a $12.6 billion investment program in Georgia by the company, and it resulted in a halt to construction on the plant designed to supply batteries for electric vehicles. The raid has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the treatment of foreign workers.

A Valid Visa Detention Raises Concerns

According to an internal federal document obtained exclusively by the Guardian, at least one of the Korean workers detained during the raid was living and working legally in the US. This revelation has ignited accusations of unlawful detention against ICE, with critics labeling the agency's actions as "outrageous" and "unlawful." The leaked document, written by an ICE agent, details the case of a man who arrived in the US in June with a valid B1/B2 visa. He was employed at HL-GA Battery Company LLC as a contractor from the South Korean company SFA.

Legal Status and Detainee Rights Under Scrutiny

Despite having a valid visa, the man was mandated by ICE to agree to removal from the US. The internal file describes this as "an actual crime," according to Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney based in Georgia, who argues that the alleged crime was committed by the government, not the detainee. Kuck, who is representing several individuals arrested during the raid, asserts that detaining a valid visa holder in this manner is illegal. He emphasizes that "this isn't an accident. People go to prison for stuff like this."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE's parent agency, issued a statement claiming that the individual admitted to unauthorized work on his B1/B2 visa and was offered voluntary departure, which he accepted. However, this contradicts the findings presented in the leaked document.

Immigration attorney Samantha Hamilton, from Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, highlights the vulnerability of these workers who were simply seeking opportunities on an ambitious international project. She underscores that they ended up imperiled due to their circumstances.

The raid has raised complex questions about immigration enforcement and its impact on foreign workers. While authorities maintain that those arrested violated immigration laws, the detention of individuals with valid legal status raises serious concerns about procedural fairness and adherence to detainee rights. The case also sheds light on the potential for abuse of power within immigration agencies and the need for greater transparency and accountability.

The incident has sparked a national conversation about the treatment of foreign workers in the US, the effectiveness of immigration enforcement policies, and the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses these complex issues in a humane and equitable manner.