Massive Immigration Raid in Georgia Leaves Families in Crisis

Mon Oct 20 2025 03:34:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia has resulted in nearly 500 arrests, causing panic among families as they search for missing loved ones. Non-profit organizations are working around the clock to provide support.

A recent immigration raid at a Hyundai factory in Georgia has led to the detention of almost 500 workers, primarily Koreans, igniting panic among families and communities. Non-profit organizations are fielding thousands of calls from concerned relatives seeking information and assistance. Many detained individuals reportedly had legal work authorization, leading to confusion and distress among families left without primary earners. Advocates stress the urgent need for clarity and support in this time of crisis, as legal proceedings remain uncertain for many affected.

Since the large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing site in southeast Georgia on September 4, nearly 500 workers have been apprehended, prompting a flood of distress calls to local non-profit organizations. Rosie Harrison, the director of the non-partisan Grow Initiative, reports that her organization is inundated with phone calls from families seeking assistance and clarity regarding the detentions.

We are witnessing a new level of crisis among families, many of whom are left without their primary breadwinners and struggling to meet basic needs like food and childcare, said Harrison.

The raid, described by U.S. officials as the largest of its kind in two decades, predominantly targeted Korean workers, many of whom have since returned to their home country. However, several non-Korean individuals remain unaccounted for or in legal limbo, as highlighted by local advocacy groups.

Workers reported chaotic scenes as federal agents raided the facility, separating individuals from their families. Vanessa Contreras, a spokesperson for Migrant Equity Southeast, mentioned that callers were frantically seeking information about their loved ones who had suddenly become unreachable, some resorting to hiding in various parts of the plant to escape capture.

While many workers were detained, there are claims from legal representatives that some individuals had valid work permits and should not have been arrested. Atlanta attorney Charles Kuck indicated that his clients included individuals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, reinforcing concerns about the enforcement tactics being employed.

Fears have escalated as families face the dual threat of losing primary earners due to the raid alongside another local business shutdown, which will further compound layoffs. Advocacy groups like the Growth Initiative continue to provide necessary resources to families impacted by the raid.

This incident has raised significant questions about immigration enforcement practices, with critics arguing that the government’s broad interpretation of criminality extends to anyone without U.S. citizenship, regardless of their circumstances, thus affecting innocent individuals caught in the crossfire.

In this uncertain legal landscape, families continue to call for accountability and support, stressing the emotional toll the situation has taken on children left asking, ‘Where is my mom?’