US Raids Hyundai-LG Plant in Georgia, Detains 475 Workers Including Koreans

In one of the largest enforcement actions of its kind, U.S. authorities have arrested 475 workers at a Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. Most of those detained are South Koreans accused of working illegally in the United States.

The raid, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is part of former President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on unlawful immigration. Footage released by ICE showed agents swarming the site, halting construction, and lining up workers in hard hats for identification checks. Several were shackled or bound with plastic ties before being loaded onto buses.

A federal officer on-site instructed workers to stop all activities immediately, describing the operation as the execution of a lawful search warrant. Some workers attempted to flee, with a few running into a sewage pond before being retrieved by agents in boats.

Diplomatic Concerns

The incident has drawn sharp concern from Seoul. South Korea's foreign ministry urged Washington to respect the rights of its citizens during law enforcement actions, while also stressing the need to protect business operations and investor confidence.

An immigration attorney revealed that some detainees had entered the U.S. under the visa waiver program and intended to return shortly, but had overstayed their permitted stay.

Company Responses

Hyundai said it is monitoring the situation closely and clarified that none of those detained were directly employed by Hyundai Motor. LG Energy Solution also pledged cooperation with investigators while collecting details about the arrests.

Community Impact

The raid has unsettled Georgia's small Korean community, leaving residents confused about where to seek legal help. Advocacy groups warned that local support networks are limited compared to larger hubs like Atlanta.

Next Steps

Authorities said the workers have been transferred to ICE custody for potential deportation proceedings, while investigations continue into possible unlawful hiring practices involving contractors and subcontractors.

"This operation is about protecting American jobs and ensuring fair business practices," said Steven Schrank, an HSI special agent in Atlanta. He added that the action was one of the largest single-site enforcement raids ever conducted by the agency.