U.S. immigration authorities carried out one of the largest workplace raids in modern history this week, arresting 475 workers at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. Most of those detained are South Korean nationals, sparking diplomatic concern in Seoul and throwing a high-profile economic project into turmoil.

The Raid

The arrests took place Thursday at the $7.6 billion Hyundai Motor Group facility — touted by state leaders as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. The plant, co-owned with LG Energy Solution, is slated to begin operations next year and is central to U.S. ambitions in the EV market.

At a Friday press conference, Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, said the raid capped a months-long probe into unlawful employment practices. He described it as the largest-ever Homeland Security enforcement action at a single site.

“Today’s operation ensures a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law,” Schrank said, adding that those arrested were either in the country illegally or working unlawfully.

Fallout and Detentions

Most of the workers were taken to the Folkston detention facility in Georgia. Schrank noted that some U.S. citizens and legal residents were detained initially but have since been released.

Attorneys for several of the workers say the raid swept up people who were lawfully present. Charles Kuck, an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, said two of his clients entered under the visa waiver program, which allows stays of up to 90 days for business or tourism. “My clients were doing exactly what they were allowed to do — attend business meetings,” he said, calling the arrests “overzealous.”

Diplomatic Alarm

The South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that South Koreans were among those detained, though it did not provide numbers. Embassy and consular officials were dispatched to the site from Washington and Atlanta.

“The economic activities of our investment companies and the rights and interests of our citizens must not be unjustly violated during U.S. law enforcement proceedings,” spokesman Lee Jaewoong told reporters in Seoul.

The episode comes just over a week after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with President Trump at the White House, pledging an additional $150 billion investment in U.S. industries, including clean energy and battery manufacturing.

Companies Respond

LG Energy Solution confirmed in a statement that employees of both its company and Hyundai had been detained. Hyundai emphasized that, to its knowledge, none of the workers arrested were its direct employees.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and working to understand the specific circumstances,” Hyundai said Friday.

The raid halted construction at the site, known as HL-GA Battery Company. A company spokeswoman said the plant is cooperating with investigators.

Political and Economic Repercussions

The raid has rattled Georgia’s Korean community, particularly in Gwinnett County — home to one of the largest Korean populations in the U.S., often dubbed the “Seoul of the South.”

Local officials voiced frustration. State Representative Sam Park, a Democrat, called the raid a “politically motivated attack” on Georgia workers.

“These raids target the very people building our clean energy future while tearing families apart,” he said. “Georgia’s prosperity depends on protecting workers, not criminalizing them.”

Immigration raids at workplaces were a hallmark of Trump’s first term, with one 2019 sweep in Mississippi leading to more than 600 arrests. The Biden administration largely halted such operations in 2021.

Critics argue that Thursday’s raid underscores the mismatch between U.S. visa rules and foreign investment needs. “The United States invited us to invest here, but they don’t give Koreans proper visas,” said Jongwon Lee, a lawyer in metro Atlanta who represents Korean companies.

Broader Tensions

South Korean conglomerates such as LG, SK, and Samsung have poured tens of billions of dollars into American factories, buoyed by federal subsidies for clean energy and semiconductors. But the Trump administration has recently imposed 15 percent tariffs on most South Korean exports, straining ties with Seoul.

Executives warn that they need trained South Korean technicians on-site — at least temporarily — to launch new U.S. plants. Without them, construction and operations could stall.

For now, the raid has left hundreds in detention, a major construction project frozen, and a diplomatic rift widening between Washington and Seoul.

As DA Sam Park put it: “This is not just about immigration enforcement — it’s about whether America keeps its promises to its allies and workers.”