Key points:
* to the extent the allegations are true, many detained WERE here "illegally" but not in the way the rabid wrong-wing would normally think of it - more minor violation stuff
* at least a few, according to their lawyers, were NOT in violation of their visas, and are wrongly detained
* few if any worked directly for Hyundai. If a significant % of the allegations turn out to be true, Hyundai DOES need to overhaul the HR department that is responsible for hiring of contractors and subcontractors, and probably outright fire at least one contracting agency.
* ... see highlighted section below ...
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/06/us/georgia-hyundai-plant-raid-timeline
Georgia immigration attorney Charles Kuck told CNN two of his clients were detained at the raid after having arrived from South Korea under a visa waiver program which allows them to travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days.
One client arrived in the US last week, and the other arrived several weeks ago, he said.
They were authorized to work in the US under a visa waiver, Kuck said. Each was pursuing activities consistent with the visa waiver program.
The clients, both engineers, came to the US to advise briefly on the work and were planning to return to South Korea shortly, according to Kuck.
OH WAIT ... reading further, do we perhaps see the REAL reason behind this raid? (is TSF really on the outs with Muskrat ... still ... or ever? or it was all a smokescreen? or doesn't matter because there are other beneficiaries in the mix?)
In 2022, Hyundai announced an agreement with the state of Georgia to build Hyundais first dedicated fully electrified vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the United States in Bryan County, the company said. The sprawling, 2,900-acre Hyundai Metaplant has two parts: a Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing site, and an EV battery plant which is a joint venture between Hyundai and LG. The plant was projected to employ up to 8,500 people when complete.
The raid halted construction of the EV battery plant, The Associated Press reported.