The U.S. immigration enforcement agency on 4th (local time) released videos and photos from a raid on illegal residency and employment at the construction site of the battery plant (HL-GA Battery Company) of Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia.
On the 6th, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website posted a report titled 'ICE led a joint operation targeting illegal employment and federal crimes in Georgia' along with photos from the raid and a video lasting about 2 minutes and 34 seconds.
The video starts with scenes of military vehicles and several cars, and helicopters entering the site, showing about ten agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration in uniforms waiting outside the building with bundles of straps presumed to be for handcuffing.
The faces of the site staff moving according to the instructions of the enforcement agents were digitally obscured, but some of the staff's work uniforms had names presumed to be 'DSK Mechanic' and 'HL-GA Battery Company' written on them.
The video continued with the enforcement agents taking turns chaining the legs and hands of site staff lined up against a bus. Scenes were also included of a few employees, presumed to be nationals from Central and South America, entering a pond on the site and being led out by the enforcement agents.
ICE stated that 475 individuals were detained during this operation. ICE noted, 'Many of these individuals were unlawfully using visitor visas.' It added, 'Those arrested were confirmed to have worked illegally in violation of visa conditions,' and 'short-term stay visa or tourist visa holders cannot work in the U.S.'