Nearly 500 Workers Detained in Georgia Immigration Raid at Hyundai EV Plant

ELLABELL, G.A. — Nearly 500 workers were detained this week during a massive immigration raid at the Hyundai electric vehicle plant in Georgia, a site touted as the state’s largest economic development project.

Largest Worksite Immigration Raid in Agency History

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank said Thursday’s raid in Bryan County was the result of a months-long probe into illegal hiring practices.

The operation, which detained 475 workers, was described as the largest single-site enforcement action in the agency’s two-decade history.

Focus on Adjacent Battery Plant

While the Hyundai EV facility employs about 1,200 people, the investigation targeted an adjacent battery plant still under construction, a joint project between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution.

Officials said most of the detainees were South Korean nationals, some of whom had entered the U.S. legally on visas that prohibited employment. Others were reportedly working under expired visas or had crossed the border illegally.

International Fallout

The South Korean Foreign Ministry expressed “concern and regret,” noting that more than 300 of its citizens were among those detained. The ministry announced plans to send diplomats from Washington and Atlanta to the site and establish an on-site response team.

South Korean nationals are rarely the focus of U.S. immigration enforcement; in 2024, only 46 were deported out of more than 270,000 removals nationwide.

Local and Political Reactions

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reiterated that employers in the state must follow the law but defended the Hyundai project as a key economic driver.

The Democratic Party of Georgia, however, condemned the raid, calling it a “politically motivated fear tactic” designed to intimidate immigrant workers who “power our economy and contribute to our communities.”

Local businesses near the 3,000-acre plant expressed concern about the economic ripple effects. One grocery store owner said, “Koreans keep this store running… I’m worried about them cutting and running, or starting an exit strategy.”

What Comes Next

Those detained were transported to an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, near the Florida line. They now face immigration court proceedings that could take months or longer.

Hyundai Motor Company said Friday that it is reviewing supplier and subcontractor practices, adding: “Hyundai has zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the law.”

This raid underscores the complex intersection of immigration enforcement, international relations, and local economies tied to major manufacturing projects.

Do you believe large employers like Hyundai should face tougher accountability for subcontractor hiring practices? Share your views with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.