In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples through international business and diplomatic circles, the United States carried out the largest single-site immigration raid in its history on September 4, 2025. Federal and immigration agents swept through the Hyundai Metaplant campus in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining 475 workers—more than 300 of whom were South Korean nationals. The raid, which unfolded over nearly ten hours, has sparked debate about the future of global investment in the U.S., the treatment of foreign workers, and the real-world impact of America’s toughened immigration stance.
The Hyundai facility, a $12.6 billion electric vehicle and battery plant, stands as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. It’s a symbol of the deepening economic ties between the U.S. and South Korea, with Hyundai and LG Energy Solution partnering to bring over 1,200 jobs to the region. Construction began in 2022, and the plant began producing electric vehicles in less than two years—a testament to the speed and scale of international investment in the American South. Yet, the events of September 4 have cast a shadow over this partnership.
According to NBC News, the operation was part of an investigation into unlawful employment practices. U.S. authorities, armed with a search warrant, said the arrested workers were working or living in the country illegally. The majority were employed by contractors and subcontractors, not by Hyundai directly—a point the company emphasized in a statement, noting, “none of the detainees were direct employees of the auto company.” LG Energy Solution reported that 47 of its employees and an additional 250 people from equipment partner companies were among those detained.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s office responded swiftly, announcing that the detained nationals would be returned to South Korea on a chartered flight. As Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry, explained, “In the course of U.S. law enforcement, the economic activities of our investment firms and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed upon.” The South Korean government expressed its “concern and regret” to the U.S. Embassy, urging that the rights of its citizens be respected during the process.
But the raid’s impact has extended beyond diplomatic statements. Witnesses described the operation as “absolutely abusive,” with heavily armed federal agents reportedly using tear gas and blocking exits. Phones were confiscated, and workers were pressured to sign documents. Meredyth Yoon, litigation director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, told Democracy Now!, “It is disturbing to see hundreds of people arrested, shackled at their waist and ankles, and loaded into buses and taken to an abusive detention center.” Many of those detained were sent to the Folkston ICE Processing Center, a facility with a history of reported human rights violations and medical neglect.
“The circumstances of the raid were just absolutely abusive, not only in their scope and just the sheer size of it, but the way that the folks at the Hyundai plant were treated by law enforcement,” Yoon added. Reports indicate that among those detained were not only South Koreans, but also nationals from Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Some U.S. citizens were initially held and later released. Notably, many detainees reportedly held valid U.S. work permits, and none have been charged with crimes as of yet.
The scale of the operation was staggering: over 500 federal, state, and local officials from agencies including ICE, the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and Georgia State Patrol took part. U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap stated, “The goal of this operation is to reduce illegal employment and prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers. Another goal is to protect unauthorized workers from exploitation.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at a Five Eyes intelligence-sharing meeting in London, insisted the raid would not deter investment in the U.S. “This is a great opportunity for us to make sure that all companies are reassured that when you come to the United States, you’ll know what the rules of the game are,” she said. Noem also confirmed that the detained Koreans would be deported, most for ignoring removal orders, while a few would “face the consequences” for other criminal activity. When asked about the possibility of expanding immigration raids or deploying the National Guard in cities like Chicago, Noem was unequivocal: “Nothing’s on hold. Everything is full speed ahead.”
White House border czar Tom Homan echoed this commitment to enforcement, telling CNN, “We’re going to do more worksite enforcement operations. These companies that hire illegal aliens, they undercut their competition that’s paying U.S. citizen salaries.” Former President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post, called on foreign companies investing in the U.S. to “please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws,” adding, “Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so. What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”
The timing of the raid has raised eyebrows, coming just as South Korea had pledged to invest hundreds of billions more in the U.S. in exchange for lower tariffs. President Lee Jae-myung recently promised at least $50 billion of investments during a meeting with Trump, and Hyundai has additional plans for a $5 billion steel plant in Louisiana. The raid, then, was not just a law enforcement action—it was a flashpoint in the evolving relationship between two economic powerhouses.
In the wake of the operation, the Korean community in Georgia and beyond has been left shaken. “The Korean community is deeply concerned and disturbed by these reports,” Yoon said. Local organizations have mobilized to provide food, legal aid, and financial support to those affected. The South Korean government, for its part, is reviewing residency status and visa systems for workers on U.S.-related projects to prevent future incidents.
Meanwhile, the U.K. is also tightening its stance on immigration. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the country could suspend visas for nations unwilling to take back their citizens who have no right to remain in Britain, underscoring a broader trend among Western governments toward stricter border controls.
As the dust settles in Ellabell, the fate of the detained workers—and the future of U.S.-South Korea economic cooperation—hangs in the balance. The raid has become a litmus test for how America balances its desire for foreign investment with its evolving approach to immigration enforcement. For the hundreds affected and the communities watching closely, the consequences are anything but abstract.