Tbilisi, Georgia, United States: 475 Workers Detained in ICE Raid at Hyundai’s Georgia EV Battery Plant, Majority South Koreans
U.S. federal authorities carried out a massive raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle (EV) battery plant under construction in Georgia, detaining around 475 workers—most of them South Korean nationals. The operation forced an immediate halt in construction and has triggered diplomatic unease with Seoul.
The site, located in Ellabell, Georgia, is one of Hyundai Motor’s largest U.S. projects. According to immigration officials, the sweep marked the largest single-site enforcement action ever conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The move comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented workers, even as it encourages billions of dollars in foreign investment. South Korea, one of America’s closest trade partners, has pledged nearly $150 billion in U.S. investments, with Hyundai alone committing $26 billion.
Steven Schrank, the special agent leading Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, said the raid followed months of investigation into workers who either entered the U.S. unlawfully or overstayed visas. He stressed it was not a random round-up but a targeted operation involving subcontractors at the site.
Hyundai clarified that none of those arrested were direct employees of the company. A spokesperson confirmed that Chris Susock, Chief Manufacturing Officer for North America, will oversee the Georgia “megasite” moving forward. The company pledged strict enforcement of compliance, stating: “Hyundai has zero tolerance for suppliers or subcontractors violating U.S. laws.”
The detained workers were transported to ICE’s Folkston Detention Center in Georgia. While U.S. authorities confirmed most of them are South Korean citizens, Korean media reported that around 300 detainees are from South Korea.
The raid, nicknamed “Operation Low Voltage,” deployed more than 400 law enforcement officers. Hyundai’s joint venture partner, LG Energy Solution, said it is fully cooperating and has temporarily suspended construction. The $4.3 billion facility, equally owned by Hyundai and LG, was expected to begin production later this year.
Following the news, Hyundai shares slipped 0.7% and LGES fell 2.3%.
This project is a cornerstone of Hyundai’s $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, considered the largest economic development initiative in the state’s history, supporting production for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EVs.
The White House reiterated that foreign workers must enter legally with proper authorization. However, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry voiced concern, emphasizing that the rights of Korean citizens and companies investing in the U.S. should not be undermined during law enforcement actions.
Video from the scene showed officers wearing Homeland Security Investigations vests ordering construction to stop: “We have a search warrant for the entire site. All work must cease immediately.”
According to the U.S. Justice Department, some workers attempted to escape during the raid, with several pulled from a sewage pond on the property.
Political reaction was divided. Georgia Democrats condemned the raid as “fear-driven tactics” targeting hardworking immigrants, while Republican Governor Brian Kemp’s office reaffirmed support for enforcing both state and federal immigration laws.
Despite the disruption, Hyundai confirmed that EV production in the U.S. remains unaffected.
