On September 4, 2025, a sprawling construction site in Bryan County, Georgia—destined to become one of the largest electric vehicle battery factories in the United States—was abruptly transformed into the stage for the country’s largest single-site immigration raid. Nearly 500 workers, the majority of whom were Korean nationals, were detained by federal agents in a coordinated operation that sent shockwaves through the automotive industry, diplomatic circles, and labor organizations alike.
The raid, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with support from a constellation of federal and state agencies, targeted the Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery plant, a $4.3 to $7.6 billion joint venture that stands as the largest single industrial investment in Georgia’s history. According to Business Insider and Fox News, the operation was part of a months-long probe into allegations of unlawful employment practices and a range of serious federal crimes. Steven Schrank, HSI's special agent in charge for Georgia, told reporters, "This, in fact, was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security investigations."
Federal agents, some masked and wearing tactical vests emblazoned with “HSI,” swept through the 3,000-acre construction zone, instructing workers in yellow safety vests to halt all activity immediately. Video footage captured an agent announcing, "We’re Homeland Security. We have a search warrant for the whole site. We need construction to cease immediately. We need all work to end on the site right now." As workers were lined up and escorted off the premises, the magnitude of the operation became clear: 475 individuals were detained, most as subcontractors rather than direct employees of Hyundai Motor Company.
At a press conference the following day, officials from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that no formal charges had been filed against those detained as of September 5. Many of the workers were held in ICE facilities, separated from their families and facing the threat of deportation. The Department of Homeland Security emphasized the broader goals of the operation, stating to Fox News Digital, "This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy, and protecting workers from exploitation."
The raid sent ripples far beyond Georgia. Hyundai Motor Company, headquartered in Seoul and ranked among the world’s largest automakers, was swift to respond. In an updated statement, the company said, "Hyundai Motor Company is aware of the immigration enforcement action that took place at the construction site of its supplier, the HL-GA Battery Company, in Bryan County, Georgia. We are closely monitoring the situation while working to understand the specific circumstances. Based on our current understanding, none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company." The company underscored its commitment to legal compliance, adding, "As we continue to invest in American manufacturing and create thousands of jobs, we will do so in full accordance with US law and in a manner that reflects our values of treating all people with dignity and respect."
Chris Susock, Hyundai’s North America chief manufacturing officer, has now taken over oversight of the Georgia site, tasked with ensuring that all subcontractors adhere strictly to regulations. LG Energy Solution, Hyundai’s joint venture partner, echoed these sentiments, telling Fox News Digital, "Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities."
South Korea’s response was immediate and pointed. The foreign ministry in Seoul expressed "concern and regret" over the incident, dispatching a counselor and embassy officials to Georgia to assist detained nationals and monitor developments. Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong told the Financial Times, "Our companies’ economic activities and our people’s rights should not be infringed unfairly in the US legal enforcement process." The sentiment was echoed in Yonhap News Agency reports, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights and interests of South Korean nationals investing and working in the United States.
The timing of the raid adds yet another layer of complexity. It comes on the heels of a new US-South Korea trade agreement, announced in July 2025, which included a $350 billion South Korean investment commitment in the US and a 15% tariff on most US imports from South Korea. The battery plant itself is slated to supply Hyundai’s adjacent Savannah EV manufacturing facility and is part of a broader $7.6 billion operation that will also serve the Genesis luxury brand and sister company Kia.
Domestically, the raid is emblematic of a broader shift in US immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term. Since January 2025, ICE agents have ramped up workplace raids across the country, targeting everything from meat-processing plants in Nebraska to racetracks in Louisiana. A bill signed by President Trump in July granted ICE additional funding and resources, including enough detention capacity to maintain an average daily population of 100,000 individuals. Administration officials have reportedly set a goal of at least 3,000 immigration-related arrests per day, reflecting an aggressive approach to enforcement.
The operation in Georgia was not an isolated event. As Left Voice reported, similar raids have swept through workplaces in upstate New York and beyond, as part of a strategy to prioritize jobs for “American” workers and crack down on what the administration describes as workforce exploitation. Critics, however, see these actions as a means of scapegoating immigrants and undermining labor rights. Labor organizations, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), find themselves at a crossroads. While some leaders have remained silent or even supported the administration’s stance in hopes of negotiating better terms for American workers, others argue that defending the rights of all workers—regardless of immigration status—is essential to improving working conditions across the board.
“The attacks on immigrant workers today pave the way for attacks already under way on all workers in the United States, regardless of their immigration status,” wrote Left Voice. The publication called on unions and community organizations to mobilize in defense of those targeted by raids, citing recent protests in Los Angeles as an example of collective action against workplace enforcement operations.
Meanwhile, the immediate impact in Georgia is tangible. Construction at the Hyundai-LG battery site has been suspended pending the investigation, though operations at the adjacent EV facility continue. The economic implications are significant—not only for the thousands of workers employed at the site, but also for the broader supply chain and the state’s ambitions to become a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes are on the interplay between federal enforcement, corporate responsibility, international diplomacy, and the rights of workers. The Hyundai-LG battery plant raid has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration, labor, and the future of American manufacturing—one that will reverberate long after the construction dust settles in Bryan County.
