U.S. immigration officers carried out a massive raid at Hyundai’s new battery plant in Georgia, arresting at least 475 workers. The factory, being built with LG Energy Solution, is part of a $4.3 billion project to supply batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric cars. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the raid followed months of investigation into illegal employment. Agents said the workers arrested were either in the U.S. without papers or had stayed after their visas expired.
South Korea Raises Concerns
The raid quickly drew a strong response from South Korea, where Hyundai is based. Officials in Seoul said many of the detained workers were South Korean nationals. Local media reported the number could be closer to 560, with about 300 of them from South Korea. The foreign ministry urged the U.S. to protect Korean citizens and not disrupt the work of companies investing in America.
Hyundai Says Its Production Not Affected
Hyundai confirmed that none of the detained workers were directly employed by the company. A spokesperson said Hyundai follows all laws wherever it operates. The automaker also said that production at its new Georgia car plant will continue as normal. However, work on the battery facility has been paused while the investigation continues.
Tension Between Immigration and Investment
This raid shows the clash between the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies and the push to attract foreign companies to invest in U.S. factories. President Trump has said he wants to deport “the worst criminals,” but many recent raids have affected ordinary workers instead. For Georgia, this project was expected to bring thousands of jobs and boost the state’s economy. Now, the arrests are creating uncertainty about when the plant will be completed.
What Happened During the Raid
Videos shared online showed federal agents in vests marked “HSI” telling construction workers to stop immediately. Workers in yellow safety gear were escorted away from the site as construction came to a halt. Similar raids also happened in New York, where dozens of workers were arrested at a snack bar factory. New York Governor Kathy Hochul strongly criticized the move, saying it left children without their parents.
What Comes Next
The detained workers are being held at an immigration center in Folkston, Georgia. DHS has not said how long they will remain in custody or what action will be taken against contractors. The raid comes at a sensitive time for U.S. South Korea relations. South Korea recently pledged billions in new U.S. investments, including $26 billion from Hyundai. Now, with hundreds of Korean nationals in detention, tensions between the two countries may rise further. For Hyundai and LG, the future of their battery plant remains uncertain. For Washington, the raid highlights the difficult balance between enforcing immigration laws and keeping major foreign investors on board.