South Koreans Among Hundreds Detained in ICE Raid at Hyundai EV Site in Georgia

U.S. immigration authorities carried out a massive raid at Hyundai’s sprawling electric vehicle manufacturing site in Bryan County, Georgia, leading to the detention of around 450 people, including South Korean nationals. The operation, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), targeted allegations of “unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes” at the facility.

The site, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, has been operational for a year and is hailed as the state’s largest-ever economic development project. However, the raid disrupted construction at an adjacent battery plant, leaving workers stunned as federal agents ordered all activity to cease immediately.

The South Korean foreign ministry expressed outrage, calling the detentions an “unjust infringement” on the rights of its citizens. In a statement, the ministry demanded U.S. authorities ensure the legitimate rights of Korean nationals are respected, adding that diplomats had been dispatched to the site to investigate the situation further. Seoul also conveyed its concerns to the U.S. Embassy in Korea, urging caution in future enforcement operations.

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Governor Brian Kemp, who had championed the Hyundai project as a cornerstone of economic growth in Georgia, has yet to comment on the raid. Meanwhile, Hyundai and LG’s representatives have promised to cooperate with authorities while continuing operations at the EV plant.

The incident comes amidst heightened immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second-term administration, as he pushes mass deportation campaigns targeting undocumented workers.