Korean Workers Detained in Georgia Raid Return to Hyundai EV Plant

(GEORGIA, UNITED STATES) Construction has restarted at the Hyundai EV battery plant site near Savannah after a disruptive immigration raid in early September led to wide ICE detention of foreign staff, according to the project’s operator. HL-GA Battery Co. said on November 14, 2025 that some South Korean workers who were detained on September 4, 2025 have now returned to the United States and resumed their jobs at the site, allowing vital equipment installation and build-out to continue.

The company did not disclose how many people have come back, but it said the restart blends both new arrivals and returning specialists, aiming to keep the multibillion-dollar project on its timeline.

What happened in September

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained more than 300 South Korean nationals during the September operation at the Hyundai Motor Group complex, which includes the battery facility and an adjacent EV assembly plant. Those detained were described by the company and local attorneys as engineers and highly skilled technicians who were in Georgia temporarily to install machinery, test systems, and prepare for launch.

HL-GA Battery Co. said the stoppage that followed the raid was immediate and far-reaching because many of these specialists work on time-critical phases that shape the entire schedule.

Government response and worker return

After about a week in ICE detention, most of the South Korean workers were sent back to their home country following talks between the South Korean and U.S. governments. Both sides moved to clear near-term travel questions and, according to the company, to set conditions that would let qualified workers return as soon as possible.

The operator expressed thanks to federal officials, the State of Georgia, and South Korean authorities, saying their cooperation helped a smooth restart. The plant remains slated to begin production in the first half of 2026, a target the company has not shifted despite the shock to staffing.

Visa and legal context

In metro Atlanta, attorney Jongwon Lee said he is aware of at least two Korean nationals who reentered on valid U.S. Department of State’s B-1 business visitor visa page, which the U.S. State Department confirmed were still valid. The B-1 category covers short-term business travel, such as installation oversight, training, or meetings, when pay continues from abroad and no local labor market is entered.

Officials and attorneys noted that visa status, length of stay, and the exact nature of duties are sensitive issues. The September operation reflects ICE’s view that many workers in Georgia were on expired or ineligible paperwork.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, sudden site checks like this can ripple through large projects that depend on foreign specialists for factory launch and equipment commissioning.

“Visa status, length of stay, and the exact nature of duties are sensitive issues,” attorneys and officials say — a primary reason the Georgia raid attracted attention.

How work resumed on site

HL-GA Battery Co. did not detail how long it expects returning teams to stay or how it is sequencing work to make up for lost time. But the company said machinery installation has resumed, a clear sign the project has moved beyond stabilization and is pushing ahead with production goals.

Industry observers note that bringing back even a portion of the original specialists can speed integration because they already know the layout, vendor plans, and handoff points between construction and commissioning. Local suppliers and contractors, who paused some work during the ICE detention fallout, have also resumed activity around the Hyundai EV battery plant.

Broader implications for supply chains and workforce planning

The raid drew attention to how global supply chains meet U.S. worksite rules. On large factory builds, companies often bring in engineers from equipment makers who fly in for targeted, short-term tasks. When paperwork lapses, the consequences can be swift.

ICE said the Georgia operation focused on visa status and eligibility for on-site work. South Korean officials held talks with U.S. counterparts to secure a return path for workers with valid travel documents and to set clearer expectations for future rotations.

The quick return of some staff suggests at least a partial alignment on how B-1 visitors can support installation without stepping into roles the government views as local employment.

Practical impacts and local reaction

For now, the company’s message is that the project is back on track. The battery plant, next door to Hyundai’s EV assembly facility, is expected to feed high volumes of cells to support models built in Georgia.

Community leaders, who have promoted the factory as a long-term job engine, watched the September halt with concern. Each week of delay risks:

• Overtime costs
• Contract penalties
• Pushed production milestones

Contractors say the presence of returning South Korean workers has helped restart test runs and quality checks that precede full mechanical startup. As one local contractor put it this week, the site feels busy again, and the sense of pause has passed.

Human cost and policy debate

Advocates for foreign workers point out the human cost of the raid. Many of those detained had planned short stints, living out of suitcases and hotel rooms, and then faced sudden confinement and a flight back home. The weeklong gap between ICE detention and departure upended work plans and family schedules.

At the same time, labor groups in the United States argue that clear visa rules protect both U.S. workers and visiting technicians by drawing a line between training or installation support and long-term labor. The Georgia case has become an example cited by both sides when urging better planning before new waves of specialists arrive.

Guidance and best practices

Government guidance remains central in these cases. The U.S. Department of State’s B-1 business visitor visa page outlines who can enter for business activities and what those activities include, a reference employers often use when planning short-term visits (State Department B-1 Visa).

Attorneys recommend that companies:

• Match tasks to the visa category
• Keep strong records of assignments and duration
• Anticipate questions at the airport and on site
• Plan rotations and compliance checks before large groups of technicians arrive

This level of planning is especially important when dozens or even hundreds of foreign technicians rotate through a worksite in tight waves.

Current status and outlook

HL-GA Battery Co.’s statement that construction has restarted with “a mix of new and returning workers” hints at a broader staffing plan. While the company has not released exact figures, the emphasis now is on continuity and safety.

Key operational notes:

• Returning workers shorten the learning curve for commissioning tasks.
• New arrivals fill gaps under updated compliance checks.
• The restart helps steady supplier hiring and keeps the promise of future jobs tied to the battery supply chain.

The ICE detention in September will likely remain a touchstone for future factory builds that rely on cross-border labor. For now, the practical news is simple: the Hyundai EV battery plant is moving again, and some South Korean workers who left under pressure have been allowed back to finish the job they started.

Whether more will return is a matter for the company and the governments involved, but the current pace suggests the plant’s 2026 launch window is still within reach.