WTOC speaks with the daughter of man detained in Hyundai megasite raid

BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Families are still trying to figure out next steps after hundreds of workers were taken into custody during an ICE raid on Thursday.

Hundreds of people were arrested at Hyundai megasite and are now being held at Folkston processing center near Jacksonville- leaving their families behind.

WTOC spoke with the daughter of a man who was detained.

“I believe no kid should have to come home or should have to worry about their father not coming home,” said Ana Victoria Ramos, daughter of a man arrested in the ICE raids.

At 16 years old Ana Ramos says growing up with her father Gustavo was full of love and laughter.

“If you were to ever call him, hey Gustavo I need your help, I need some advice, he would be the first one there, he would be the first one,” said Ramos.

Ana and her five siblings are now faced with a new reality.

She said her father Gustavo Ramos was one of the 475 workers who were arrested after Thursday’s raid of the Hyundai megasite.

She said her father was working at the HLGA battery site while doing construction, a career her father has held since he was young.

“He was brought over at a young age and put to work,” said Ramos.

Ana says her father was working towards citizenship but had not received it. Since her father’s arrest she says neither she or her family have been able to contact him and they are unsure of what happens next

“I just want everything to go back to normal, but I know it won’t,” said Ramos.

Homeland security says Thursday’s investigation has been one of the largest single site arrests in the agency’s history.

SEE: ‘The largest single-site operation in history’: HSI, ICE reveals number of Hyundai megasite arrests

“There was a network of subcontractors and subcontractors for the subcontractors, so the employees worked for a variety of companies that were on the site,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations.

Homeland Security says it has received reports of unsafe and unethical work practices at the megasite for those without proper documentation.

Thursday’s raid was an excursion of a months-long investigation.

And the HSI’s warrant was intended for four people on the site, but they were met with many more workers.

“475 were illegally in the United States or were in violation of their presence in the United States working unlawfully,” said Shrank.

But for Anna and her family, the only thing they care about is getting in contact with Gustavo and finding a way to get him back.

“I just want happiness back in our home… I want him back home," said Ramos.