More than 475 workers were detained in a sweeping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Hyundai battery plant under construction in Georgia, marking the largest single-site operation in Department of Homeland Security history. As reported by The Guardian, the arrests, involving mostly South Korean nationals, have rattled U.S.–Korea relations and disrupted work on what was hailed as Georgia’s biggest industrial investment project.
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Largest ICE Operation
U.S. immigration officials confirmed Friday that approximately 475 workers were taken into custody during Thursday’s raid at the Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery factory. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described it as the largest single-site enforcement operation since its creation after the September 11 attacks. Federal agents from multiple agencies, including ICE, the FBI, and the DEA, executed the judicially authorized raid.
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South Korea’s Response
Seoul reacted sharply to the mass arrests. “The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of U.S. law enforcement,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said. Officials confirmed that many detained nationals were being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, and voiced concern over the treatment of their citizens.
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Project Impact in Georgia
The $4.3 billion Hyundai–LG venture, part of a broader $12.6 billion Hyundai investment in Georgia, had been celebrated as the largest economic development project in the state’s history. The factory was expected to supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicles, with operations due to start later this year. Construction has now been halted, with the company pledging to cooperate with authorities.
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Hyundai’s Official Statement
Hyundai distanced itself from the arrests, saying none of the detained individuals were directly employed by the automaker. “We comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate,” a spokesperson said, stressing that production at other facilities remained unaffected. The company underlined its commitment to the project, despite the setback caused by the raid.
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Trump Administration Crackdown
The raid reflects President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, which has disrupted industries relying on foreign labor even as his administration courts global investment. “Arrests are being made,” said Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia. Trump has repeatedly vowed to target “the worst of the worst” criminals, though ICE data shows a rise in arrests of non-criminals.
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Chaotic Raid Scene
Video footage from the site showed Homeland Security Investigations agents ordering construction to stop immediately. “We have a search warrant for the whole site. We need construction to cease immediately,” one officer announced as workers in safety vests were led away. Witnesses described the atmosphere as chaotic, with federal and state officers swarming the site.
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New York Raids Also Reported
The Hyundai raid coincided with another large-scale ICE operation in upstate New York, where agents stormed Nutrition Bar Confectioners facilities near Syracuse. More than 40 adults were detained, sparking outrage from New York governor Kathy Hochul. “We will never stand for masked ICE agents separating families and abandoning children,” she said. Advocacy groups estimated the number of arrests exceeded 70.