Atlanta (BN24) – Federal immigration agents detained 475 workers, most of them South Korean nationals, in what officials described as the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. The raid took place Thursday at a Hyundai construction site in Ellabell, Georgia, where the automaker and LG Energy Solution are jointly building a massive electric vehicle battery plant.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said the arrests followed a multimonth criminal probe into alleged unlawful employment practices at the site. Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank told reporters Friday that those taken into custody were “illegally present in the United States or in violation of their presence, working unlawfully.” He added the operation “underscores our commitment to jobs for Georgians and Americans.”
Videos posted on social media showed hundreds of workers lined up for questioning as federal agents conducted document checks and background reviews. Schrank emphasized the action was not a random sweep but rather the result of an extensive investigation. While 475 workers remain in immigration custody, no criminal charges had been filed as of Friday.
A judge unsealed a 15-page warrant authorizing agents to seize employment and immigration records tied to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America construction project. The warrant also listed four individuals sought by authorities, though details remain sealed.
U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap said more than 400 agents participated in the enforcement action, part of the nationwide initiative “Operation Take Back America,” which she described as targeting illegal immigration, cartels and transnational crime.
South Korea raises objections
Seoul responded sharply to the arrests. “In the course of U.S. law enforcement, the economic activities of our investment firms and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed upon,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong. He said South Korea had expressed its concerns to the U.S. Embassy and would establish a task force in Georgia through its Atlanta consulate.
Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney in Atlanta representing two detainees, said his clients entered legally under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and were not violating its terms. He described them as process engineers who were attending meetings and not performing unauthorized labor.
White House, Hyundai respond
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said President Donald Trump remains committed to making the U.S. “the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.” She added that foreign workers must enter legally “with proper work authorizations.”
Hyundai said none of those detained were directly employed by the company. “We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate,” the company said in a statement. LG Energy Solution echoed that it was “closely monitoring the situation” and would cooperate fully with authorities.
Schrank said those arrested were employed through a network of contractors and subcontractors, which remain under federal scrutiny. Many of the detained workers were transferred to the Folkston immigration processing center in Georgia.
A high-profile economic project
The Hyundai EV plant, valued at $7.6 billion, has been hailed by Gov. Brian Kemp as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. The facility began producing electric vehicles last year and employs about 1,400 people. The battery plant now under construction is expected to open next year, creating thousands of additional jobs.
South Korea, one of the world’s largest auto and electronics producers, has pledged billions in U.S. investments to expand its manufacturing footprint. Hyundai announced in March that it would raise its planned U.S. investment to $26 billion between 2025 and 2028, including projects in steel, robotics, and expanded auto production that are expected to generate roughly 25,000 jobs.
The immigration raid threatens to complicate those economic ties just as Washington and Seoul deepen cooperation on trade and investment.
