Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes, representing Georgia's 7th Senate District, has issued a stern rebuke of the raid carried out by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations on a Hyundai factory in Bryan County. As reported on Friday by Senate Press, Parkes condemned the detainment of 475 workers, stating that these employees are integral members of the community.
Many of those detained during the Thursday operation were Korean nationals, and Senator Parkes' district includes the largest Korean community in the state. "I strongly condemn the unprecedented, mass ICE raid of 475 workers at the Hyundai plant in Bryan County, the majority of whom were Korean nationals. These hardworking Georgians are our neighbors and friends, pursuing the shared American Dream of providing for their families and building a better future," Parkes told Senate Press.
The operation, which resulted in approximately 450 workers being detained, was confirmed by the Atlanta division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senator Parkes averred that such enforcement measures serve not to enhance safety, but to spread fear and disrupt the lives of immigrant families and communities they are part of.
Parkes criticized state leadership for not opposing federal immigration actions, emphasizing that immigrants are foundational to the state's strength and should be treated with fairness and humanity. According to the critique from the Senator, obtained by Senate Press, "These raids are not meant to promote safety but rather intimidate, divide and remove immigrant families from their homes, all while simultaneously throwing our economy into disarray."
While the full impact of the raid on the local community and the state’s economy has yet to be measured, Parkes has pledged to remain an outspoken advocate for all immigrant communities in her district and state-wide. She promised, despite the challenges posed by federal policies, to strive for a more inclusive and humane approach to immigration in Georgia.
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