In a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement, U.S. authorities conducted a massive raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining nearly 475 workers. The majority of those arrested were South Korean nationals, according to immigration officials, making it the largest single-site enforcement action ever carried out in the history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The raid brought construction at the multibillion-dollar facility to a halt, raising immediate concerns not only for the automaker but also for U.S.–South Korea relations at a delicate time of trade and investment negotiations.
The raid unfolded on Thursday and involved more than 400 law enforcement officers in a coordinated operation dubbed “Operation Low Voltage.” Federal officials explained that the investigation had been ongoing for several months and targeted networks of subcontractors that allegedly employed unauthorized workers. Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, emphasized at a press briefing that this was not a chaotic sweep but rather a planned enforcement action. He stated that the individuals arrested were either in the country illegally or had overstayed their visas, which barred them from working on U.S. soil.
Hyundai Motor Company was quick to issue a statement distancing itself from the workers arrested, stressing that none of them were directly employed by the automaker. A spokesperson confirmed that all detained individuals had been working through layers of subcontractors. To manage the fallout, Hyundai announced that Chris Susock, its chief manufacturing officer for North America, would immediately assume governance of the entire Georgia megasite to ensure stricter oversight. The company reiterated its “zero tolerance” stance on legal violations and promised to investigate its suppliers and subcontractors to enforce compliance with U.S. labor and immigration laws.
The arrested workers were transported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Folkston, Georgia. Initial reports from Korean media suggested that roughly 300 of the detainees were South Korean nationals, underscoring the international dimension of the case. This prompted South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a statement expressing “deep regret and concern,” urging U.S. authorities to avoid actions that unnecessarily disrupt the economic activities of Korean companies investing in the United States or infringe upon the rights of their citizens.
The raid has wider geopolitical and economic implications. Just weeks earlier, South Korea had pledged $150 billion in new investments in the United States, including $26 billion specifically from Hyundai Motor, as part of a broader trade and economic cooperation deal totaling $350 billion. This week’s enforcement action now risks creating friction between the two countries at a time when their alliance is critical for both economic growth and strategic security in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the construction site, videos shared on social media captured tense moments as Homeland Security Investigations officers in tactical vests ordered workers in yellow safety gear to stop immediately. One officer was filmed declaring, “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.” Reports from the Department of Justice later revealed that several workers attempted to flee during the raid, with some even having to be retrieved from a sewage pond on the property after trying to escape capture.
Hyundai’s joint venture partner, LG Energy Solutions, confirmed it was cooperating fully with U.S. authorities and had paused construction at the site in the wake of the arrests. The battery plant, a $4.3 billion investment split equally between Hyundai and LG, was scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year and was expected to supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicle models. Now, the timeline for its completion remains uncertain.
The fallout was immediately felt in financial markets. Shares of Hyundai Motor fell by 0.7% following the news, while LG Energy Solutions saw a sharper decline of 2.3%. Analysts suggested that investors were wary of the operational delays and the potential for further political and legal complications arising from the raid.
The raid also triggered a fierce political reaction within Georgia and beyond. The state’s Democratic Party condemned the operation as “politically motivated fear tactics” aimed at intimidating immigrant communities and disrupting the livelihoods of hardworking individuals who contribute significantly to the state’s economy. They argued that such raids damage both Georgia’s workforce and its reputation as a hub for global investment. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Brian Kemp’s office defended the enforcement action, stating that Georgia would always uphold state and federal immigration laws without exception.
Despite the turbulence, Hyundai confirmed that production of electric vehicles at its newly opened car factory in Georgia had not been disrupted. The company emphasized that the battery plant under construction was part of a broader $12.6 billion investment package in the state—an initiative touted as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. The EV battery facility was intended to play a pivotal role in Hyundai’s push into the American electric vehicle market, a strategy that has been central to its long-term global competitiveness.
While President Trump has long promoted himself as an advocate of foreign investment, his administration has simultaneously intensified immigration enforcement across the country. ICE, supported by record levels of funding and expanded authority, has become a cornerstone of Trump’s domestic agenda. Although Trump has publicly insisted that his focus is on deporting dangerous criminals, data have shown that many of those targeted in raids have been non-criminals, leading to criticism from rights advocates who accuse the administration of employing heavy-handed tactics.
The raid at Hyundai’s Georgia site starkly highlights the contradictions in U.S. policy: on one hand, actively encouraging foreign companies to pour billions of dollars into American manufacturing, and on the other, aggressively policing the very labor force required to bring those projects to fruition. For Seoul and Washington, the operation has created a new source of diplomatic tension, one that could test the balance between economic cooperation and domestic political priorities in the months ahead.
