- A sweeping immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia has triggered diplomatic shockwaves, with over 300 South Korean nationals among the 475 workers detained.
- South Korea has concluded emergency talks with the U.S. to repatriate its citizens, while the incident raises serious questions about visa compliance, foreign investment, and the future of multinational manufacturing in America.
A massive immigration enforcement operation at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia has escalated into a full-blown diplomatic incident. U.S. federal agents detained 475 workers on September 4, with more than 300 identified as South Korean nationals. The raid, described by Homeland Security Investigations as the largest single-site operation in its history, targeted alleged visa violations and unauthorized labor practices.
Footage released by ICE showed workers in safety vests—some labeled “Hyundai” and “LG CNS”—being shackled and processed outside the facility. The plant, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, had been hailed as Georgia’s largest economic development project, employing over 1,200 people.
South Korea responded swiftly. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik confirmed that negotiations with Washington had concluded, and a chartered plane would be dispatched to repatriate the detained workers once administrative procedures are finalized. Seoul also pledged to overhaul its visa protocols to prevent future incidents.
LG Energy Solution, which had 47 employees detained, announced a suspension of all U.S. business trips and ordered staff on assignment to return home. The company said many of the detained workers were on short-term business visas or under visa waiver programs, which prohibit employment.
The timing of the raid—amid sensitive trade talks and ongoing investment negotiations—has raised alarm in Seoul. South Korean media described the operation as a “shock,” warning it could dampen enthusiasm for future U.S. ventures. The Dong-A Ilbo cautioned that the incident may have “a chilling effect” on Korean business activity in America.
President Donald Trump defended the operation, stating that ICE was enforcing immigration law and protecting American jobs. Homeland Security officials emphasized that the raid targeted subcontractors and was part of a months-long investigation into unlawful employment practices.
As the detainees remain held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, the fallout continues. Hyundai has pledged to review its labor practices, while investors and foreign partners watch closely. The raid has not only disrupted a flagship EV project—it has exposed the fragile balance between industrial ambition and immigration enforcement.
