On Thursday, September 4, 2025, a major U.S. immigration enforcement action unfolded at one of Georgia’s most prominent industrial sites, sending shockwaves through the state’s business and political communities. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at the HL-GA Battery Company construction site in Ellabell, near Savannah, Georgia—a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. The operation resulted in the detention of more than 30 Korean nationals and brought construction on the massive electric vehicle (EV) battery plant to a sudden halt.
The raid targeted a site adjacent to Hyundai’s $7.6 billion EV manufacturing facility, which itself employs about 1,200 people and has been hailed by Georgia officials as the largest economic development project in the state’s history, according to the Associated Press and other outlets. The battery plant, still under construction, is a critical component of Hyundai’s strategy to ramp up EV production in the United States, reflecting the auto industry’s rapid shift toward electric vehicles.
ICE and HSI agents, acting on suspicions of unlawful employment practices, stormed the battery factory construction area early Thursday morning. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, agents executed the search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.”
Most of those detained were team leaders or higher-level employees from LG Energy Solution’s headquarters in Korea. These individuals had entered the U.S. under B-1 business visas or via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), officially registered as business travelers. However, authorities allege that they were directly involved in installing factory equipment and preparing for production—activities that are not permitted under those visa categories.
The Korean Embassy in Washington confirmed the detainment of more than 30 Korean nationals. “Construction has been suspended to cooperate with the investigation, and we plan to fully cooperate with authorities,” an LG Energy Solution spokesperson told Korea JoongAng Daily. “We are still working to confirm the exact number of detainees and whether they remain in custody.”
Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads leading to the Hyundai plant during the raid, and the state Department of Public Safety provided additional support. Social media videos captured agents informing workers, “We need construction to cease immediately. We need all work to end on the site right now.” Despite the disruption, operations at Hyundai’s EV manufacturing plant continued, with the company emphasizing its full cooperation with authorities. “To assist their work, we have paused construction,” the HL-GA Battery Company said in a statement.
This high-profile case is not the first time Korean workers at Georgia battery plants have come under scrutiny. In September 2020, 13 Korean workers at the SK Battery America plant were detained by ICE for illegal employment after entering on ESTA. Earlier that year, another 33 Koreans were denied entry and deported at the airport. These incidents have prompted criticism from local officials and calls for stricter enforcement. Back in 2020, Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia criticized Korean companies for “illegally hiring their own nationals instead of local residents” and urged ICE and Customs and Border Protection to conduct thorough investigations. In response, SK Battery America tightened its worker identification procedures and ramped up local hiring efforts.
The underlying issue, according to industry insiders, is the challenge of securing the right visas for urgently needed foreign specialists. “Obtaining employment visas such as H-1B can take several months in the United States. Some companies resort to sending staff on short-term business or ESTA visas to fill urgent labor shortages,” a source in the business community explained to Korea JoongAng Daily. “Whether the workers’ activities align with their visa status has become a key issue in crackdowns. Coordination between governments and systemic reform is needed.”
The scale and visibility of the Hyundai-LG battery plant raid have drawn national attention, not least because of the context in which it occurred. The Trump administration, having returned to power in 2025, has made immigration enforcement a top priority. According to ICE, in the first 200 days of the new administration, approximately 359,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested, and about 332,000 were deported. The administration has also built new detention centers, expedited the hiring of immigration agents, and directed other agencies to support immigration enforcement efforts. As of early September 2025, ICE has around 60,000 illegal immigrants in detention, as reported by NBC News.
The Hyundai plant, with its $7.6 billion price tag, is a cornerstone of Georgia’s industrial ambitions and a symbol of the growing economic ties between the United States and South Korea. Hyundai Motor Group began manufacturing electric vehicles at the site a year prior to the raid, and the adjacent battery plant was expected to further cement the region’s status as an EV manufacturing hub. The facility’s opening was attended by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, who celebrated the project’s potential to bring jobs and investment to the state.
Yet, the raid has thrown a spotlight on the complexities of global supply chains and the difficulties multinational companies face when navigating U.S. immigration law. The suspension of construction not only jeopardizes project timelines but also raises questions about how foreign investment intersects with domestic labor and legal requirements. For local workers and officials, the incident is a reminder of the delicate balance between attracting international business and enforcing federal laws.
The broader context includes a series of large-scale immigration raids under the Trump administration. In July, for instance, two California cannabis farms were raided, resulting in more than 300 arrests and the death of one farm worker after sustaining injuries during the operation. These actions have been part of a broader crackdown on undocumented labor across various industries, not just manufacturing.
For Georgia, the events of September 4 have immediate consequences: construction at the state’s flagship battery plant is at a standstill, and the fate of more than 30 detained Korean workers remains uncertain. The business community, meanwhile, is bracing for potential changes in how foreign specialists are brought into the country, with many calling for reforms that would clarify and streamline visa processes for global companies operating in the U.S.
As the investigation continues, both Hyundai and LG have reiterated their commitment to cooperating fully with U.S. authorities. The companies, along with state and federal officials, now face the challenge of resolving the legal and logistical hurdles that have brought one of Georgia’s most ambitious projects to a grinding halt.
For now, the story stands as a vivid example of the complexities at the intersection of international business, immigration policy, and local economic development.
