UPDATE: A raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 4, 2023, has left South Korean engineers at a Hyundai electric car battery factory in Georgia shaken and fearful. The sudden operation, which took place at a sprawling 2,900-acre complex in southeastern Georgia, disrupted the work of hundreds of skilled workers who had returned to the U.S. to support American manufacturing.
Park Sun-kyu, one of the engineers involved, described the chaos that unfolded as agents stormed the facility. “I was in an office teaching a colleague when an agent with a handgun burst in and shouted, ‘Everyone outside!’” he reported. Kim Min-su, another engineer, was supervising critical operations when he heard the alarm about the raid. “It was frightening,” he recalled, as the agents moved swiftly throughout the premises.
The Hyundai facility in Georgia is crucial for the local economy, having been praised by the state’s governor for creating thousands of jobs. However, the presence of ICE agents has now raised serious concerns among the South Korean workforce, many of whom are highly skilled individuals with extensive experience in manufacturing and engineering.
Nate Cho, an HVAC expert, expressed his disbelief at the raid, stating, “We thought we were helping to build something important for the future.” The engineers, who have previously worked on significant projects globally, such as nuclear power plants and electric vehicle factories, now fear for their safety and stability in the U.S.
The raid has sparked outrage and anxiety within the community, as the engineers worry about their immigration status and the potential repercussions of such enforcement actions. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policies in the United States, especially regarding skilled foreign workers who play a vital role in the economy.
As the situation develops, workers and advocates are calling for clarity and support from officials. The emotional toll on the South Korean engineers is palpable, as they grapple with uncertainty about their futures in a country they came to contribute to.
WHAT’S NEXT: Community leaders are urging for immediate dialogue with U.S. officials to address these fears. The local economy’s reliance on skilled labor and the implications of such raids will be critical points of discussion in the coming days. The engineers are now left waiting, hoping for reassurance and a swift resolution to this distressing situation.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.
