On Thursday, September 4, 2025, a massive federal immigration raid rocked Georgia’s largest economic development project, the sprawling Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing site in Bryan County, just outside Savannah. Hundreds of federal agents descended on the facility, detaining 475 people—most of them South Korean nationals—in what authorities have called the largest single-site enforcement operation in the agency's two-decade history. The operation, which targeted the site’s battery plant under construction—a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution—has sent shockwaves through both local communities and international diplomatic circles.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the raid followed a months-long investigation into illegal hiring practices at the site. Special Agent Steven Schrank of Homeland Security Investigations explained that agents were seeking employment records, timecards, and even video footage as they tried to unravel who had hired what they described as “hundreds of illegal aliens.” Yet, as of the weekend, prosecutors admitted in court filings that the “actual company or contractor hiring the illegal aliens is currently unknown.”
The scale and focus of the raid set it apart from previous workplace enforcement actions. While workplace raids have become more frequent during the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, most have involved smaller numbers and different industries. This operation, targeting a marquee foreign investment project in the heart of Georgia, drew attention not only for its size but also for the demographic makeup of those detained. More than 300 of the detainees were South Korean citizens, a group rarely swept up in such actions. The remainder included workers from other countries, contractors, and at least one lawful permanent resident detained due to a prior criminal record involving firearm and drug offenses.
ICE officials said some detainees had illegally crossed the U.S. border, while others had entered the country legally but overstayed their visas or were working in violation of visa waiver restrictions. “People on short-term or recreational visas are not authorized to work in the U.S.,” ICE stated, asserting that the raid was necessary to protect American jobs. Video footage released by the agency showed workers, some in vests labeled “Hyundai” and “LG CNS,” being frisked, shackled, and loaded onto buses bound for an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, near the Florida state line.
The raid has left families and friends of the detainees scrambling for information. Many of those detained were in the U.S. only temporarily for business, and their relatives are now struggling to contact them or understand the legal process. James Woo, communications director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, said in an email that confusion and anxiety were running high, especially as many families remained in South Korea.
Hyundai Motor Company responded with a statement asserting that, to its knowledge, none of its direct employees were detained, and that it was reviewing supplier compliance with U.S. employment laws. LG Energy Solution, for its part, said it was cooperating with authorities but could not immediately confirm how many of its employees were among those detained. On Saturday, LG announced it was suspending most business trips to the U.S. and sending its Chief Human Resources Officer, Kim Ki-soo, to the Georgia site to assist detained employees and coordinate with authorities. “We are making all-out efforts to secure the swift release of detained individuals from our company and partner firms,” LG said in a statement, adding that it was ensuring detainees received necessary medications and support.
The South Korean government reacted with alarm, calling an emergency meeting and establishing an Overseas Korean Protection Task Force to support its citizens. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed “a great sense of responsibility for the arrest of our citizens,” and emphasized that “U.S. law enforcement actions must not unjustly infringe upon the rights of our nationals or the economic activities of our Korean-invested companies.” Diplomats were dispatched to Georgia, and Cho indicated he might travel to Washington if necessary. The incident comes at a delicate moment, as South Korea has pledged tens of billions of dollars in American manufacturing investment—partly to offset tariffs—and is engaged in sensitive trade talks with the U.S.
The raid’s timing and its focus on a high-profile foreign investment project have sparked debate within the U.S. and abroad. Georgia’s Republican officials, who had championed the Hyundai plant as a boon for local jobs and economic growth, issued statements reiterating that all employers must follow the law. Yet, some local residents, like Ellabell’s Tanya Cox, voiced frustration that the influx of jobs had not directly benefited the community: “I don’t see how it’s brought a lot of jobs to our community or nearby communities,” she told the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, the nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta described the raid as “unacceptable,” stating, “Our communities know the workers targeted at Hyundai are everyday people who are trying to feed their families, build stronger communities, and work toward a better future.”
On social media and in political circles, reactions were predictably polarized. Some commentators applauded the Trump administration’s hardline stance. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said, “That’s no longer the case under President Trump and Operation Take Back America. I applaud the Trump Administration and our brave law enforcement officers for taking bold action to put American workers first and protect our communities from the scourge of illegal immigration.” Others, like Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga., decried the operation as “an act of cruelty and injustice,” warning that due process must be respected and that the administration is “actively working to instill fear and chaos within our most marginalized communities.”
Some business owners in the area are worried about the fallout. Sammie Rentz, who opened Viet Huong Supermarket just a few miles from the Hyundai site, said business had dropped sharply since the raid. “I’m concerned. Koreans are very proud people, and I bet they’re not appreciating what just happened. I’m worried about them cutting and running, or starting an exit strategy,” he said.
The Hyundai site, which began manufacturing electric vehicles a year ago, represents a $7.6 billion investment and employs about 1,200 people. The adjacent battery plant, a joint venture with LG, was slated to open in 2026 and is considered one of the largest foreign investment projects in Georgia. Bryan County, where the plant is located, has seen its population surge by more than 25% in recent years, with the Asian population—primarily people of Indian descent—increasing from 1.5% in 2018 to 2.2% in 2023, according to Census Bureau figures.
Despite the dramatic scenes and international attention, as of September 6, 2025, none of the detainees had been charged with crimes, and the investigation into illegal hiring practices continues. ICE officials emphasized that U.S. citizens were not detained, stating, “Once citizens have identified themselves, we have no authority.”
As both the U.S. and South Korean governments navigate the diplomatic and economic repercussions, the raid stands as a stark reminder of the tensions between immigration enforcement, foreign investment, and the realities of a globalized workforce. For the hundreds now held in a Georgia detention center—and the communities on both sides of the Pacific—the story is far from over.
