A massive workplace raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia has swept up nearly 500 workers, most of them South Korean nationals accused of violating U.S. immigration rules by working on visitor visas.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Thursday’s operation uncovered 475 people employed illegally at the facility, located outside Savannah. The raid, one of the largest in recent years, underscores the Biden administration’s continuing tension between welcoming foreign investment and enforcing strict immigration laws.
“People on short-term or recreational visas are not authorized to work in the U.S.,” ICE said in a statement, describing the raid as part of an “active, ongoing criminal investigation.” The detained workers are being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, pending further review.
Hyundai emphasized that none of the detained workers were directly employed by the company. Its joint venture partner, LG Energy Solution, said it was cooperating fully with authorities while prioritizing the “safety and wellbeing” of its employees and contractors.
South Korea, which has pledged billions in U.S. manufacturing projects to avoid tariffs and deepen trade ties, lodged an immediate protest. Its foreign ministry said the “rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed” during U.S. enforcement actions, dispatching diplomats to Georgia to monitor the situation.
Some lawyers argued ICE had overreached. Charles Kuck, an Atlanta immigration attorney, said two of his clients—South Koreans traveling under the visa waiver program—were wrongly caught up. “My clients were doing exactly what they were allowed to do—attending business meetings,” Kuck said, adding that one had only arrived on Tuesday and was due to leave next week.
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Among those detained was a Mexican citizen with permanent residency and a criminal record, ICE confirmed, citing past convictions for narcotics possession and firearm theft. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Steven Schrank defended the raid, saying it sent a “clear message” to companies that “those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable.”
The incident highlights competing priorities for President Donald Trump, who has sought to expand domestic manufacturing while promising a hard line on illegal immigration. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said ICE was “just doing its job,” but acknowledged Seoul’s concerns. “We want to get along with other countries, and we want a great, stable workforce,” he said.
The Georgia factory, billed as the state’s largest-ever economic development project, had been expected to employ 1,200 people building next-generation electric vehicles.