Several federal and state law enforcement agencies raided the construction site of a Hyundai joint-venture in Georgia today, arresting 475 for alleged immigration violations.
The EV battery plant, known as HL-GA Battery Company, is a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, and is located next to Hyundai’s “Metaplant” in Ellabell, Georgia, southwest of Savannah. It was slated to open by the end of this year or early 2026, and it will supply batteries for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 EV SUVs.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Steven Schrank told reporters at a news conference the arrests were made for entering the U.S. unlawfully, overstaying visas, and working unlawfully. No charges have been filed yet as the investigation continues. The raid is the latest in President Donald Trump’s controversial crackdown on unlawful immigration.
Schrank confirmed a majority of the people arrested were Korean nationals but did not give an exact number. A spokesperson for LG told the New York Times both its employees and Hyundai employees were arrested, though Hyundai told the Times separately it believed none of its employees were arrested.
Hyundai told Fox News in a statement: “As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company. We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate.”
Schrank said some of the people arrested worked for subcontractors and not directly for either parent company. He also said some number of U.S. citizens and lawful residents were detained and are now being released.
“This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy, and protecting workers from exploitation,” Schrank told reporters at a news conference.
The Department of Homeland Security told CNN in a statement it had executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.”
ICE officials told the BBC the raid was the culmination of a “multi-month criminal investigation, where we have developed evidence, conducted interviews, gathered documents, and presented that evidence to the court in order to obtain an official search warrant.”
HL-GA Battery Company told the Associated Press in a statement it “is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities. To assist their work, we have paused construction.” A spokesperson for Hyundai’s Metaplant told the AP in a statement that the raid did not affect plant operations.
The South Korean government has gotten involved, sending diplomatic and consular officials to the site and contacting the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, according to the Yonhap News Agency and the BBC. A spokesperson for South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said at a press conference: “The economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S.