The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed on Monday that 23 Mexicans were arrested in Georgia (United States), during a raid on the automotive plant of the South Korean company Hyundai in that southeastern state of the neighboring country.
“We were informed that 23 Mexicans were detained in Georgia, in this automobile plant (Hyundai) in the last raid. Thirteen of them asked for consular support, ten did not ask for consular support”, said the President during her morning press conference.
Sheinbaum guarantees consular support
He stated that, in these cases, consulates are instructed to immediately request information from U.S. authorities.
And go to detention centers to establish contact with those affected and their families.
“There the consulates (are) attentive and alert to be able to support all our countrymen,” he said.
Sheinbaum also clarified that there will be no lack of resources for consulates, with the objective of helping nationals with the hiring of lawyers or agencies.
He also added that 19 more Mexicans are still being held in Florida at the immigration detention center known as Alcatraz de los Caimanes.
475 workers arrested in Georgia
He indicated that all nationals detained in the United States have the right to request consular support.
Although, he said, not everyone does it or is not aware of it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs(SRE) reported that on Thursday Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE/HSI) conducted an immigration raid in Ellabell, Georgia, where it detained at least 475 workers from a Hyundai plant, in which South Korean and Hispanic immigrant communities were the most affected.
That surprise raid became, so far, the largest during the current onslaught by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration against illegal migration.
Videos on social networks showed surprised workers and others running.
And some apparently went to hide in pipelines or neighboring wooded areas after U.S. authorities raided the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America facility near Savannah, where they manufacture electric vehicles.
Mexican Consulate in Atlanta follows case
The Mexican Foreign Ministry said that the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta “maintains permanent contact with the responsible U.S. authorities”.
Authorities involved in the raid, led by ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement and HSI, said the detainees included undocumented workers and South Korean employees who were in the United States for work purposes.
According to EFE, it was not specified whether they were in an irregular migratory situation.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
