In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples through diplomatic and business circles, U.S. immigration authorities conducted a sweeping raid on September 4, 2025, at Hyundai’s massive electric vehicle and battery manufacturing complex near Savannah, Georgia. The operation, described by Homeland Security Investigations as the largest single-site enforcement action in its two-decade history, resulted in the detention of 475 workers—over 300 of whom were South Korean nationals, according to South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (as reported by the Associated Press and Yonhap News Agency).
The sprawling 3,000-acre site, which opened just a year ago, represents a $7.6 billion investment by Hyundai Motor Group and employs about 1,200 people. Adjacent to the main electric vehicle facility, a battery plant operated by HL-GA Battery Co.—a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution—is still under construction and was the primary focus of the enforcement action. The battery plant, slated to open next year, is a linchpin in Hyundai’s strategy to ramp up electric vehicle production in the United States.
Steven Schrank, the lead Georgia agent for Homeland Security Investigations, told reporters that the raid was the culmination of a multimonth criminal investigation into allegations of illegal hiring practices at the site. "This has been a multimonth criminal investigation where we have developed evidence and conducted interviews, gathered documents and presented that evidence to the court in order to obtain a judicial search warrant," Schrank stated (AP). He clarified that some of those detained had entered the U.S. illegally, while others had arrived with visas that either prohibited employment or had expired. Some detainees, Schrank noted, worked directly for the battery manufacturer, while others were employed by contractors and subcontractors involved in the construction project.
Schrank emphasized that the operation was not a random sweep: "This was not an immigration operation where agents went into the premises, rounded up folks, and put them on buses." Instead, agents targeted specific individuals and records, seeking employment files, payroll information, immigration documents, and details about the management of construction companies and contractors named in court filings. The U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledged in a Thursday court filing that the "actual company or contractor hiring the illegal aliens is currently unknown." No criminal charges had been filed as of Friday, but the investigation is ongoing.
The impact of the raid extended far beyond the plant gates. South Korea’s government responded with visible alarm. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jaewoong, in a televised statement from Seoul, expressed "concern and regret" over the operation, insisting, "The business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the process of U.S. law enforcement." President Lee Jae-myung ordered an all-out diplomatic response, instructing officials to resolve the matter swiftly and protect the rights and interests of South Korean nationals and companies. "We are deeply concerned and feel a heavy sense of responsibility over the arrests of our nationals," Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, adding that a team had been set up to respond on-site and that he might travel to Washington, DC, for consultations if necessary (Yonhap).
South Korean diplomats were promptly dispatched from the embassy in Washington and the consulate in Atlanta to the Georgia site, with plans to form a dedicated response team. The incident has sparked anger and anxiety in Seoul, with the opposition People Power Party warning of "broader repercussions for Korean companies and communities across the United States." PPP chairman Jang Dong-hyeok called the detentions "a grave matter that could lead to broader repercussions for Korean companies and communities." Senior party spokesperson Park Sung-hoon criticized President Lee’s diplomacy, suggesting that recent promises of major investments in the U.S. had not been matched by adequate protections for South Korean citizens.
Local business owners and residents in Bryan County, Georgia, have also felt the aftershocks. Sammie Rentz, owner of the Viet Huong Supermarket just a few miles from the Hyundai site, described a sharp drop in business since the raid. "Koreans keep this store running," Rentz said, expressing concern that the community might "cut and run, or start an exit strategy." Meanwhile, some locals, like Ellabell resident Tanya Cox, voiced frustration that the economic benefits of the project hadn’t reached nearby communities. "I don’t see how it’s brought a lot of jobs to our community or nearby communities," Cox remarked, noting the disruption to the local environment and job market.
Hyundai Motor Company, keen to distance itself from allegations of wrongdoing, stated that none of its direct employees had been detained, according to spokesperson Bianca Johnson. "Hyundai has zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the law," the company said in a statement, pledging to review supplier and subcontractor practices to ensure compliance with U.S. employment regulations. LG Energy Solution echoed this, saying it was "closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details," while HL-GA Battery Company confirmed it was "cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities" and had paused construction to assist the investigation (AP, HL-GA Battery Company statement).
Despite the scale of the operation, production at Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant was not interrupted. Detainees were transferred to an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, near the Florida state line, and those contesting deportation may remain in custody as their cases proceed through immigration court. The number of people in ICE custody nationwide reached an all-time high of over 60,000 in August, underscoring the broader context of intensified immigration enforcement during the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump, when asked about the raid at a White House event, remarked, "I would say that they were illegal aliens, and ICE was just doing its job." His administration has made high-profile enforcement actions a hallmark of its immigration policy, with previous raids targeting farms, restaurants, and construction sites. The Pew Research Center notes that the U.S. labor force lost more than 1.2 million immigrants from January through July 2025, reflecting both legal and undocumented departures.
The raid has also become a flashpoint in Georgia’s political landscape. The Democratic Party of Georgia condemned the operation as "politically-motivated fear tactics designed to terrorize people who work hard for a living, power our economy and contribute to the communities across Georgia that they have made their homes," according to party chair Charlie Bailey. In contrast, Governor Brian Kemp and other Republican officials, who had previously celebrated Hyundai’s investment as the largest economic development project in state history, reiterated the expectation that all employers must follow the law.
As investigations continue and diplomatic efforts intensify, the Georgia Hyundai raid stands as a stark reminder of the complex intersection between global business, immigration policy, and international relations. For the hundreds of workers and families affected, as well as the communities and companies caught in the crossfire, the repercussions are likely to echo for months to come.