Several Colombians were detained in the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid last Thursday at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, U.S. Although most of the 475 migrants arrested were South Korean nationals, among those apprehended were more than 100 Latin Americans, including Venezuelans, Colombians, and others.
Three of the Colombians arrested claim that, like many others in that raid, they had their papers in order and denounce indiscriminate and illegal arrests, as most held valid work permits.
Last week’s operation is considered so far the largest workplace raid under the Trump administration, but more and more voices argue that the detentions were arbitrary and denounce the helplessness such police operations cause for foreign workers who comply with labor law.
Colombians among Hyundai plant workers detained by ICE
On Thursday, Sept. 4, an ICE operations team arrived at a Hyundai automotive plant in Savannah, Georgia. With a massive police deployment of 500 agents, immigration authorities proceeded with the mass arrest of workers who were allegedly in an irregular situation in the U.S.
There were 475 arrests, the majority South Koreans — the country where Hyundai is headquartered — although there were also more than 100 Latin Americans of various nationalities, especially Venezuelans. What the Trump administration quickly presented as an example of its successful crackdown on illegal immigration soon became the subject of accusations of abuse and violations of the rights of lawful foreign workers.
It is claimed that most of the South Korean workers were in the U.S. under a training program that allowed them to be in the country legally. As for the Latin Americans, testimonies from several people, including some Colombians, assert that they were complying with U.S. labor laws.
Such is the case of the family of Luz Dary Suarez, a Colombian who had been warned of the impending raid. However, her husband decided to go to work as usual because, as he told his wife by phone, “I have everything in order, I have no reason to run.” She recalled this in anguish, now that her husband has been detained.
According to CNN en Español, the Suarez family (the couple and their two children) arrived in the U.S. nearly two years ago and have a pending asylum application. Nevertheless, Luz Dary recounted that, according to her husband, an agent told him during the raid that he was “being detained for being detained.” When he showed his documents, another agent allegedly responded: “He stays, just because.”
Colombians and Venezuelans denounce total arbitrariness and abuse in a shadowy ICE operation
The Suarez case is not isolated but reflects the reality of many arrested last Thursday. Another Colombian citizen, identified only as Santiago (who withheld his last name for fear of reprisals), told CNN en Español that his wife, a Venezuelan national, was also detained in the Hyundai raid.
Santiago stated that Hyundai executives always requested documentation before hiring workers, and he himself had worked at the plant some time ago.
“They were on their break when they arrived by surprise and detained them,” he recounted to CNN, repeating what his wife had told him. “They stormed the place, arresting everyone, no matter who they were. At the time of processing, she told me that they asked each person what documents they had.”
However, when Camila showed her papers, the agent in charge “wrote down in her file that she had nothing and sent her to the bus,” a claim that matches the Suarez family’s account and suggests that the agents’ intention was to detain a large number of workers regardless of their legal status.
There is also a third Colombian, identified only by his first name: Mauricio. His wife has been detained for five days, although he was able to speak with her. “They were calm because she and her brother had their papers in order. But she said the agents really came in, pushed people around, and refused to accept any documents,” he said. “Even though they could verify them, they told everyone it wouldn’t matter, that they were all going to be arrested,” he added.
Hyundai denies having irregular workers
For its part, Hyundai executives defended themselves, stating that they do not believe any of the 475 detainees were direct employees of the company. “Hyundai is committed to full compliance with all laws and regulations in every market where we operate. This includes employment verification requirements and immigration laws,” the company said Friday in a statement.
In this regard, the company announced that it will carry out an investigation to ensure that suppliers and subcontractors comply with the law.
What is certain is that the agents’ entry — some with their faces covered — caused workers to stampede, as shown in images broadcast by various television channels.
Nevertheless, as in the case of the three Colombians who spoke to the media, their relatives were detained despite believing they were in full compliance with the law and had their employment status in order in the U.S.
These testimonies stress that they do not live “off subsidies and public aid” and maintain that they are in the United States “to work and earn an honest living.” In some cases, they express fear of being detained like their partners and leaving their children defenseless.