Inside Hyundai Raid: A Monthlong Investigation at Georgia Battery Plant

(GEORGIA) U.S. immigration authorities detained 475 workers during a sweeping Hyundai raid at a massive Georgia plant on September 4, 2025, in what officials called the largest single-site immigration enforcement action in Homeland Security Investigations history. The operation unfolded at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery facility under construction in Bryan County, a flagship project tied to the state’s push into EV manufacturing. Most of those detained were South Korean nationals who worked for Hyundai or subcontractors at the site, according to officials familiar with the operation.

ICE said the monthslong investigation focused on unlawful employment practices and suspected work-authorization violations. Some workers allegedly entered the United States without inspection; others allegedly overstayed visas or breached visa waiver rules by working without permission. As of the raid date, authorities announced no criminal charges, and many detainees were moved to an ICE holding center in Folkston, near the Florida line, for processing and possible immigration court proceedings.

Scale of the operation and immediate fallout

The numbers underscore the reach of the enforcement action: 475 detainees, with South Korean officials confirming more than 300 of their citizens among them. Agents descended on the Georgia plant after weeks of surveillance and document review. The raid disrupted parts of the construction site, a key piece of Georgia’s biggest economic development initiative and a core investment in EV battery production in partnership with LG Energy Solution.

Company contractors are now bracing for workforce shortages while legal teams sift through records to confirm employment eligibility. Steven Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama, said the Hyundai raid aimed to:

• Protect jobs for local workers
• Keep a level field for companies that follow the law
• Safeguard the economy’s integrity
• Prevent worker abuse

His remarks reflect enforcement goals seen in recent years, including workplace checks and removal actions that gained strong attention during President Trump’s term. While worksite actions have continued under President Biden, the scale and site choice—an iconic, high-investment project—set this operation apart.

South Korea’s diplomatic response and worker processing

Seoul moved quickly in response to the detentions:

• Officials outlined plans to coordinate the release and repatriation of over 300 South Korean detainees on a charter flight once administrative steps finish.
• South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun planned travel to the United States for direct talks.
• The government in Seoul said it would review visa systems for business travelers tied to large overseas investment projects to reduce future risks for employees assigned to U.S. industrial sites.

Outcomes for detained workers depend on individual case details:

• Past entries, overstays, visa types, and any prior removal orders will determine next steps.
• Possible outcomes include voluntary departure, expedited removal, or placement into regular immigration court proceedings.
• Some detainees may be eligible for bond or parole, allowing release while cases proceed.

Family members and employers often struggle to get timely updates; officials advise checking case status through assigned alien numbers once processing begins.

“For detained workers, outcomes hinge on individual files: past entries, overstays, visa types, and any previous removal orders.”

Systemic causes and compliance challenges

Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes a gap between how fast multinational projects scale and how slowly cross-border staffing rules adapt. Large ventures commonly rotate engineers, technicians, and project managers, and when visa planning lags, companies sometimes rely on short-term entries or unclear arrangements that can breach work-authorization rules—especially at construction-heavy sites where job roles shift daily.

Federal compliance realities:

• Employers must complete Form I-9 for each hire to verify identity and work authorization.
• Large, layered projects can blur responsibility across contractors and subcontractors.
• Subcontractors may rely on third-party recruiters, and mid-project personnel swaps complicate compliance.

While no criminal charges were announced, Hyundai and its contractor network will likely face:

• Deeper audits
• Possible fines
• Pressure to adopt better verification systems (including E-Verify where required or adopted)

Human impact and community response

The human cost is real. Detentions can separate parents from children and leave families without income. Community groups in Georgia reported calls from spouses who could not locate family members for hours after the buses left the site. Local lawyers set up triage screenings to find urgent cases—people with medical needs or valid work permits caught in the sweep.

Advocacy organizations criticized the raid, arguing it harms communities and chills workers from reporting wage theft or safety issues—concerns tied to earlier periods of heavy worksite enforcement.

Key facts confirmed by officials and consular sources:

• 475 workers detained in the Hyundai raid at the Georgia plant
• Over 300 South Korean nationals among those held
• Detainees transported to an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia
• No criminal charges announced at the time of the operation

Economic and policy implications

Business leaders and state development officials worry about delays. A long pause in skilled staffing could slow construction and shift launch timelines for EV battery production. The Georgia plant is central to supply chains feeding U.S.-built electric cars, and any bottleneck could ripple through delivery schedules.

Employers in similar projects—semiconductor fabs, clean energy sites, and advanced manufacturing hubs—are watching closely and may anticipate:

• Tighter audits
• More surprise inspections
• Expanded compliance teams

Policy analysts expect renewed debate in Washington about balancing immigration enforcement with economic goals and cross-border investment. Two broad perspectives:

• Supporters of strong workplace checks argue such actions protect lawful workers and deter labor abuses.
• Critics argue high-profile raids fail to address systemic problems: long visa wait times, limited visa categories for specialized project staff, and shifting guidance on business-visitor work permissions.

These gaps can trap employers between fast project deadlines and slow, complex immigration pathways.

Practical guidance for workers, families, and employers

For workers and families seeking reliable updates:

• Official announcements and case-specific notices remain the best sources of truth.
• ICE posts enforcement news and process guidance at: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• Consulates can assist nationals with travel documents, notifications, and coordination for repatriation.
• Attorneys advise keeping copies of passports, visas, entry stamps, and prior immigration records—small details (e.g., date of last entry) can change a case’s path.

For employers and contractors, recommended actions include:

1. Re-verify employment authorization records and complete Form I-9 processes.
2. Map each role to the correct visa/status (e.g., B-1 business visitor rules vs. employment-based visas).
3. Delay site work when authorization is unclear rather than risk disruptive enforcement.
4. Embed compliance checks in daily operations and plan longer lead times for visas.

What’s next

U.S.–South Korea talks will likely focus on safe return for repatriated workers and clearer guidance for future project staffing. If additional audits follow at other industrial sites, managers may need to:

• Rethink hiring pipelines
• Embed compliance in operations
• Plan longer timelines for visa processing

The Hyundai raid at the Georgia plant is now a touchstone in immigration enforcement—one that will shape how global companies plan, hire, and move people into the American workforce.