Chartered Flight Departs US with Hyundai, LG Workers Detained in Georgia Immigration Raid
A chartered plane carrying hundreds of South Korean workers detained during a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, departed from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, bound for South Korea.
The flight transported more than 300 South Korean nationals, who represented the majority of the 475 individuals arrested during the raid on Sept. 4. Additionally, 14 foreign employees affiliated with South Korean companies were aboard the plane.
The raid was conducted under a federal search warrant, with U.S. authorities stating that those detained were working or residing in the country without proper legal authorization. The battery plant, a $4.3 billion project, is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution focused on manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as prompting a “whole-of-government response” in cooperation with the affected companies. The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safe return of all detained nationals, noting that all but one of the South Korean detainees are departing voluntarily.
Following the deportations, the ministry indicated ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation on visa and labor issues to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz, speaking at an event in Detroit, acknowledged the raid’s impact, stating the plant’s construction timeline will be delayed by two to three months. Munoz expressed surprise at the immigration enforcement action, remarking that the use of specialized foreign labor during initial plant construction phases is common practice due to the specific skills and equipment required, which are often unavailable domestically.
The raid has raised broader concerns about labor practices and immigration enforcement intersecting with international business operations, particularly in sectors reliant on specialized foreign workers.
FinOracleAI — Market View
The forced repatriation of a significant portion of the workforce at a major Hyundai-LG battery plant will likely disrupt production schedules and delay project timelines, weighing on short-term operational output. The diplomatic tension and potential tightening of visa policies may increase compliance risks and labor costs for South Korean firms operating in the U.S. Investors should monitor ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea for visa reforms and any further regulatory actions that could affect foreign labor availability.
Impact: negative
