In the wake of a recent massive immigration raid targeting a Hyundai plant in southeast Georgia, the impact has been swift and severe. Nearly 500 workers were swept up in this operation, and Rosie Harrison, who runs a local non-profit, reported that her organization is inundated with distress calls from families seeking assistance.
“We have individuals returning calls every day, but the list doesn’t end,” Harrison stated. Her group, Grow Initiative, provides essential resources to low-income families, and since the raid, they are facing unprecedented demands. “Families are experiencing a new level of crisis,” she added.
According to reports, the bulk of those detained were Korean nationals. However, many non-Korean immigrants are left in precarious situations, with advocates noting that some had legal work authorizations and remain in custody, heightening fears within the community.
As the operation unfolded on the morning of September 4th, numerous workers sought refuge from federal agents, with some reportedly hiding in remote areas of the plant or even in a nearby sewage pond to avoid detainment.
Families off-site frantically reached out to advocacy organizations, anxious for information about their loved ones who suddenly became unreachable. Harrison and others noted that many who were detained served as the primary earners in their households, exacerbating fears over basic necessities such as food and baby formula.
Unsettling reports from attorneys revealed that detainees included individuals working legally under programs designed for young immigrants, indicating a troubling breadth to the operation. “It’s hard to say how they chose who they were going to release and who they were going to take into custody,” one advocate lamented, reflecting the confusion and uncertainty many families are encountering.
The nationwide crackdown on immigration has left many vulnerable, with experts calling attention to the described redaction of the term ‘criminal’ to encompass both undocumented individuals and those with legal statuses. As worries grow, families left behind navigate a landscape of fear and trauma following this unprecedented raid.
