Federal immigration agents detained 475 workers Thursday at Hyundai Motor’s Georgia electric vehicle complex, shutting down construction of a multibillion-dollar battery plant and prompting a diplomatic complaint from Seoul.
The operation at the 3,000-acre site west of Savannah marked the largest single-site enforcement action in Department of Homeland Security history, according to officials. The majority of those detained were South Korean nationals working for various contractors at the facility.
The raid targeted construction of an adjacent battery plant that Hyundai is building with LG Energy Solution, slated to open next year. The joint venture immediately suspended work to cooperate with authorities, though production at the existing EV plant continued uninterrupted.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed “concern and regret” to the U.S. Embassy, demanding protection of its citizens’ rights and warning against unfair interference with Korean investment activities. The diplomatic friction highlights tensions between immigration enforcement and efforts to attract foreign investment.
The facility represents a $7.6 billion investment that Georgia officials have touted as the state’s largest economic development project. The operation involved multiple federal agencies including ICE, FBI, DEA and ATF, underscoring the scope of the Trump administration’s workplace enforcement strategy.
Homeland Security Investigations described the raid as part of a monthslong probe into alleged unlawful employment practices and other federal crimes.
