South Korea protests “unfair violation” of nationals’ rights as federal agents storm state’s biggest investment project
Federal immigration agents detained 475 workers during a massive enforcement operation at a Hyundai battery plant construction site in Georgia on Thursday, marking the largest single-site immigration raid in US history and sending shockwaves through international business relations.
The unprecedented operation at the Bryan County facility, part of Georgia’s £9.3 billion ($12.6 billion) economic development project, has prompted diplomatic protests from South Korea and raised urgent questions about workforce stability at America’s most ambitious electric vehicle manufacturing complex.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia and Alabama, confirmed the arrest figures at a press briefing on Friday, stating that the majority of those detained were Korean nationals. This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law,” Schrank said, adding that the raid followed a months-long criminal investigation into “allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.”
The raid deployed extraordinary federal resources, with agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other agencies descending on the 3,000-acre site in Ellabell, approximately 28 miles west of Savannah. Video footage captured masked agents in tactical gear ordering construction workers in hard hats and yellow safety vests to cease work immediately, whilst unmarked buses were seen leaving the facility.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry responded with unusual directness, expressing “concern and regret” over the operation. Lee Jae-woong, a ministry spokesperson, declared: “The economic activities of our companies investing in the US and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated.” Seoul confirmed that approximately 30 South Korean nationals were amongst those detained and dispatched consular officials to the site whilst establishing an emergency task force.
The timing could hardly be worse for US-South Korea economic relations. In July, Seoul pledged £258 billion ($350 billion) in US investment to avoid President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, which were ultimately set at 15 per cent. Hyundai alone had announced plans to invest £19.2 billion ($26 billion) in US operations from 2025 to 2028, expected to create 25,000 American jobs.
The HL-GA battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, represents a critical component of Georgia’s electric vehicle ambitions. The facility, scheduled to begin operations by year’s end, is designed to supply batteries for Hyundai’s adjacent Metaplant, which opened in March 2025 and currently employs 1,232 workers with plans to expand to 8,500.
We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and are committed to abiding by all labour and immigration regulations,” Michael Stewart, a Hyundai spokesperson, told reporters. The company insisted that production at its main EV manufacturing plant continued uninterrupted, with none of its direct employees detained. “As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,” the firm stated.
LG Energy Solution struck a more urgent tone, stating it was “closely cooperating with the South Korean government and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our employees and staff at contractors, and to secure their swift release from detention.” The company confirmed it was providing interpreters and legal assistance to those detained.
The raid represents a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s workplace immigration enforcement strategy. Since taking office in January 2025, ICE has arrested more than 66,000 people in the first 100 days, with Acting Director Todd Lyons boasting that “three in four arrests were criminal illegal aliens.” The administration has conducted over 1,000 workplace arrests and proposed more than £740,000 ($1 million) in fines against businesses accused of hiring unauthorised workers.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, has repeatedly defended aggressive workplace enforcement as necessary to identify trafficking victims and protect American jobs. “Worksite operations have to happen,” Homan said in a recent television interview. Where do we find most victims of sex trafficking and forced labour trafficking? At worksites.”
The operation’s scale stunned local officials who have championed the Hyundai project as transformative for coastal Georgia. Governor Brian Kemp, who has repeatedly touted the Metaplant as the state’s largest-ever economic development project, has not commented on the raid. Just months ago, at the plant’s grand opening in March, Kemp signed the bonnet of a newly manufactured IONIQ 5 electric vehicle and praised Hyundai’s commitment to Georgia.
The Bryan County Megasite has been central to Georgia’s strategy to become America’s electric vehicle manufacturing capital. The state has attracted more than £20.1 billion ($27.3 billion) in e-mobility investments since 2018, with Hyundai’s facility designed to produce up to 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually for the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands.
Industry observers warn the raid could have lasting repercussions. “This sends a chilling message to international investors,” said a manufacturing sector analyst who requested anonymity. “Companies need workforce certainty, especially during construction phases of major projects. This kind of disruption can delay timelines and increase costs substantially.”
The raid also highlights tensions within Trump’s immigration agenda. Earlier this year, the president had suggested protecting workers in agriculture, hospitality, and certain manufacturing sectors, posting on social media that “our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away” from farmers and hotels. However, administration officials reversed course within days, with Department of Homeland Security leadership pushing agents to intensify enforcement across all sectors.
Federal authorities defended the operation as part of their mandate to protect American workers. Together, we are sending a clear and unequivocal message: those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable,” a Department of Homeland Security statement read.
The human cost remains unclear. Advocacy groups report that detained workers were transported to various detention centres, with families scrambling for information about their relatives. Immigration attorneys warn that those without proper documentation could face deportation proceedings, whilst others may be released pending investigation.
Mary Beth Kennedy, a spokesperson for the HL-GA joint venture, confirmed construction had been paused to assist authorities but provided no timeline for resumption. With the battery plant crucial to Hyundai’s American EV strategy, any significant delay could impact the company’s competitive position in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.
The diplomatic fallout continues to unfold. South Korea’s robust response suggests concern that such enforcement actions could discourage Korean investment at a time when both nations are navigating complex trade relationships. The incident may complicate ongoing negotiations over semiconductor supply chains and critical mineral partnerships essential to both countries’ economic security strategies.
As federal officials prepare further briefings on what they term an “ongoing criminal investigation,” questions mount about the future of foreign investment in American manufacturing. The Hyundai raid demonstrates that even projects with strong political backing and billions in state incentives remain vulnerable to federal immigration enforcement priorities.
No charges have been filed against Hyundai or its contractors, with investigators emphasising the operation remains active. However, the precedent has been set: in Trump’s America, no workplace is off-limits, regardless of economic importance or international sensitivities.
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