Two months after a dramatic immigration raid brought construction to a grinding halt at Hyundai’s sprawling electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing campus near Savannah, Georgia, the hum of machinery and the shuffle of workers’ boots are back. The return of South Korean technicians and skilled workers—some of whom were among the hundreds detained and repatriated in September—signals a tentative but determined restart for the ambitious battery plant project that had captured both local and international attention.
According to The Associated Press, the September 4, 2025, raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) swept up approximately 300 South Korean nationals at the HL-GA Battery Co. construction site. The workers, who were instrumental in installing and coordinating equipment for the yet-to-open EV battery factory, were found to be in the U.S. on expired visas or under visa waivers that specifically prohibited employment. The incident abruptly shut down work on the battery facility, which sits adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group’s new EV assembly plant—a centerpiece of Georgia’s recent economic development efforts.
HL-GA Battery Co., the operator of the battery plant, announced on November 14, 2025, that construction had resumed, now powered by a mix of new hires and returning South Korean specialists. In a statement, the company expressed gratitude to the U.S. and South Korean governments, as well as Georgia officials, “for their collaboration in supporting a smooth and timely return.” The company also underscored its commitment to the local workforce, saying, “We remain on track to start production in the first half of next year and continue to actively hire local positions to operate the facility.”
Mary Beth Kennedy, spokesperson for HL-GA Battery, confirmed to The Associated Press that some of the returning workers were indeed among those detained in September, though she declined to specify how many had made it back. The uncertainty reflects the ongoing complexities of immigration law and the delicate negotiations that have unfolded behind the scenes since the raid.
Meanwhile, LG Energy Solution—the South Korean battery giant and operator of the plant—confirmed that “subject matter experts” were back at the HL-GA Battery work site. While the company did not disclose exactly how many of the 317 South Korean nationals detained by ICE had returned, their presence was enough to restart machinery installation and get the project back on schedule. The timeline had been thrown into question immediately after the raid, with Hyundai Motor Co. CEO José Muñoz predicting in September that the immigration action would delay the battery factory’s opening by two to three months.
The battery facility is a critical component of a much larger manufacturing project, widely touted as one of the most significant economic development efforts in Georgia’s history. The campus, which includes the new Hyundai EV assembly plant and six affiliated supplier facilities, is expected to produce up to 500,000 vehicles annually once fully operational. The battery plant, operated as a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is designed to supply not just the Savannah assembly line but also other North American EV and hybrid projects.
For the local community and state officials, the return of workers and the resumption of construction is a welcome relief. The project had been a major point of pride for Georgia’s economic planners, promising thousands of high-paying jobs and anchoring the state’s role in the burgeoning EV manufacturing sector. Governor Brian Kemp and other leaders had campaigned vigorously to attract the investment, touting it as a transformative moment for the region.
The September raid, however, exposed the complicated intersection of global business, U.S. immigration policy, and the practical realities of building advanced manufacturing facilities in record time. According to The New York Times, most of the detained workers were in the country on short-term B-1 or H-1B visas, which allow for business visits and certain types of skilled labor but are subject to strict conditions and expiration dates. The confusion and disruption caused by the enforcement action led to delays, uncertainty, and a scramble to ensure future compliance with federal regulations.
In the aftermath, HL-GA Battery Co. and its partners worked closely with both the U.S. and South Korean governments to facilitate the return of essential personnel. The companies emphasized their appreciation for the “collaboration in supporting a smooth and timely return,” highlighting the importance of expert technicians in installing complex, proprietary battery-making equipment. “We appreciate the efforts of our partners and government officials in ensuring business continuity and the creation of high-paying, hard-working jobs for Georgians,” an HL-GA Battery spokesperson told Fox News.
Despite the disruption, the project’s leaders remain optimistic. “We remain on track to start production in the first half of next year,” HL-GA Battery reiterated in its November statement. The company is actively recruiting local talent to fill operational roles, aiming to blend international expertise with homegrown skills as the facility ramps up toward full-scale battery production in 2026.
Industry observers note that the incident has served as a stark reminder of the legal and logistical hurdles facing global manufacturers operating in the U.S. “There’s always something to be scared of,” Korean attorney Hee Kuk, based in Atlanta, told The New York Times. “But this is a choice: either you’re going to have the job or you’re not going to have the job. It’s not clear what they want yet.” The comment reflects the anxiety felt by many foreign-born workers and their employers as they navigate a patchwork of visa categories, labor rules, and enforcement priorities.
Still, the return of South Korean technicians to the Savannah site underscores the vital role of international expertise in launching next-generation manufacturing projects. The specialized knowledge required to install and calibrate advanced battery equipment—much of it developed by LG Energy Solution in Korea—remains in short supply, even as companies like Hyundai and HL-GA Battery redouble efforts to train local staff and ensure future compliance with U.S. immigration law.
For now, the mood on the ground is one of guarded optimism. The hum of machinery, the presence of returning workers, and the continued hiring of local employees all point to a project regaining its footing. With production slated to begin in the first half of 2026, Georgia’s EV hub is once again on the move—proof, perhaps, that even in the face of disruption, collaboration and perseverance can bring a vision back to life.
