Massive Immigration Raid Targets Hyundai-LG Battery Plant in Georgia
Federal and immigration authorities executed a large-scale raid on the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution’s electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Ellabell, Georgia, on September 4, 2025. The operation resulted in the detention of 475 individuals suspected of working or residing in the U.S. without legal authorization.
Details of the Enforcement Action
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) led the enforcement action, which officials described as the largest single-site immigration raid in the agency’s history. Over 400 agents participated in the operation, focusing on contractors and subcontractors employed at the $7.6 billion plant, which began operations less than two years after construction started in 2022.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, confirmed the detained workers were unauthorized to work or live in the country. LG Energy Solution reported that 47 of its employees and approximately 250 workers from associated equipment partner companies were among those arrested.
Diplomatic and Corporate Responses
The South Korean government has expressed concern over the detentions and is facilitating the repatriation of its nationals aboard a chartered flight. Lee Jae-woong, spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry, emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of South Korean employees and ensuring their economic activities are not unjustly disrupted.
Hyundai clarified that none of the detainees were its direct employees and reaffirmed its commitment to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The company continues to allow business travel to the U.S., though some trips are subject to internal review in light of the raid.
U.S. Immigration Policy Context
This enforcement action aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified focus on workplace immigration compliance. White House border czar Tom Homan indicated plans to increase similar worksite enforcement operations to prevent companies from gaining unfair advantages through the employment of unauthorized workers.
Former President Donald Trump, commenting on the raid, urged foreign firms investing in the U.S. to adhere strictly to immigration laws and to prioritize hiring and training American workers. He also emphasized that the raid was unrelated to the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and South Korea.
FinOracleAI — Market View
The immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG battery plant introduces short-term operational uncertainties, particularly concerning labor availability and potential reputational risks. While Hyundai and LG Energy Solution maintain that direct employees were not involved, reliance on contractors and subcontractors may prompt increased scrutiny and compliance costs.
Investors should monitor further regulatory actions and diplomatic developments, as well as any operational disruptions at the plant. The incident underscores the ongoing risk of heightened immigration enforcement impacting manufacturing sectors reliant on foreign labor.
Impact: negative
