(Ellabell, Georgia) Federal agents detained approximately 475 workers—including more than 300 South Korean nationals—during a sweeping September 4, 2025 operation at the Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site outside Savannah. Officials describe the action as the largest single-site enforcement operation in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) history.
The coordinated effort by ICE/HSI, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and the Georgia State Patrol followed a judicial search warrant and focused on alleged misuse of U.S. visas to bring in overseas labor for construction and installation at the massive project.
The immediate fallout was stark: a full work stoppage at one of Georgia’s most high-profile industrial builds—promoted by state leaders as central to future jobs and electric-vehicle manufacturing in the United States. Hyundai announced the plant in 2022 with a planned $5.5 billion investment; LG Energy Solution joined in 2023, committing billions more for battery production that would feed Hyundai’s EV lineup.
Investigators are probing whether visa categories—used for decades to bring in highly trained specialists for complex installation and commissioning—were applied in ways that violate federal law. Legal teams for detained workers argue that these categories, which have existed since at least 1990, are designed for niche roles requiring deep technical training not easily found in the local labor market. Typical roles cited include precision installation, line calibration, equipment testing, and integration work on production systems that must be delivered on tight timelines.
Scale of the enforcement and immediate fallout
Workers and their representatives say companies tied to “Korea Inc”—a shorthand for South Korea’s corporate heavyweights—received warnings months ago about visa compliance risks tied to large industrial sites. Few anticipated a raid of this size.
- The operation shut down activity at Hyundai’s sprawling Ellabell site.
- Buses and processing centers were set up to handle hundreds of arrests in a single day.
- As of September 9, 2025, Hyundai had not issued a public statement on the raid, leaving contractors, suppliers, and local officials to piece together the path forward.
Attorney Charles Kuck, who represents several detained workers, said the targeted roles demand specialized skills and years of experience. He maintains that the visa types at issue were used in good faith and within long-standing practice, but are now under intense scrutiny due to shifting enforcement priorities.
“The defense will challenge not only the basis for individual arrests but also how federal authorities are interpreting the visa rules governing specialized foreign technicians on short-term industrial assignments,” Kuck said.
The Trump administration has emphasized strict enforcement of immigration and labor laws, particularly for high-profile projects with foreign investment. Officials describe the Ellabell action as part of a broader push to police worksites, ensure compliance, and protect domestic workers. This aligns with recent focus on worksite checks in sectors seen as critical to the economy and national supply chains.
The South Korean government arranged charter flights to repatriate detained citizens—an unusual diplomatic step that signals the scale and sensitivity of the episode. For families, the human cost is immediate: many detained workers face potential deportation and long-term bans on reentry, depending on case outcomes and any findings of visa fraud or unauthorized work.
Legal fight and visa questions
Detained workers are moving through immigration proceedings, with counsel contesting detentions and the government’s reading of visa parameters. Hearings will test the boundaries of long-used categories that allowed companies to bring in foreign specialists for installation and oversight—functions supporters say require original equipment makers or closely trained affiliates to be on-site to stand up production lines safely and on schedule.
For now, construction remains suspended while federal investigators continue their review. Project timelines—already aggressive given demand for EVs and batteries—are now uncertain. Stakeholders must weigh impacts on downstream suppliers, hiring plans, and training programs that depend on the plant’s staged opening.
Key points in the legal and operational dispute:
- Attorneys say the visa “playbook” has been stable for decades; federal officials say enforcement is stepping up.
- Decisions by detained workers carry high stakes: repatriation could avoid prolonged detention but may trigger long bans; fighting removal may preserve future travel rights but can be costly and uncertain.
- Compliance teams are re-examining contracts, scopes of work, and on-site supervision to ensure foreign nationals’ tasks match their immigration status.
Business, diplomatic, and community implications
The episode places fresh pressure on compliance teams at foreign-owned and U.S.-based contractors. Companies are:
- Reviewing contracts and staffing models
- Considering expanding training for U.S. workers sooner
- Limiting overseas headcounts or splitting installation phases
- Pausing projects until counsel provides written clearance on staffing
The diplomatic dimension is significant. South Korea’s automakers, battery firms, and industrial giants are high-profile national assets. The detentions are likely to prompt direct talks between Seoul and Washington and could influence future industrial deals—potentially producing stronger compliance undertakings, joint audits, or clearer advance rulings on worker roles.
Policy discussions are underway in both capitals. Possible responses include clarifying visa rules for specialized industrial work by:
- Setting tighter definitions of “installation” and “commissioning”
- Creating clearer carve-outs for OEM-led tasks that are difficult to hand off
Business groups will push for regulatory certainty; worker advocates will press for safeguards that protect wages, safety, and job access for local hires.
Local communities around Savannah face intertwined human and economic effects:
- Families of detained workers rely on consular support far from home.
- Contractors and small vendors face cash-flow pressure if work remains halted.
- Hotels, transport, and food services lose business tied to the construction wave.
- County officials are caught between economic hopes and federal enforcement, waiting for clarity on when—or if—activity will resume at scale.
Sector-wide ripple effects and enforcement outlook
Hyundai and LG have remained publicly quiet since September 9, 2025, leaving many questions about project sequencing and contractor rosters unanswered. Behind the scenes, legal and compliance teams are likely mapping backup scenarios such as reassigning tasks, expanding domestic training, or employing remote commissioning tools until a legal path emerges.
The Ellabell case is a wake-up call across the EV and battery sector. Manufacturers from Asia and Europe that rely on tight launch schedules and vendor ecosystems will reassess U.S. risk, even as they seek tax credits and attempt to meet domestic-content goals. Responses will vary:
- Some firms will double down on compliance and documentation.
- Others may stagger timelines or consider additional sites outside the U.S. to protect global rollouts.
For those tracking federal policy, the administration’s message is clear: worksite enforcement is back at scale, prioritizing large, high-visibility projects. HSI now has both resources and precedent to mobilize across agencies. Companies should expect:
- More unannounced visits
- Broader interviews of supervisors and HR staff
- Document sweeps covering every step from recruitment to on-site duties
Official guidance on worksite operations and employer responsibilities is available from ICE/HSI at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What’s at stake going forward
As the legal process unfolds, core disputes will shape future practice:
- What tasks may a foreign specialist perform on U.S. soil?
- How far does a visa cover related duties?
- Who bears liability when responsibilities overlap or blur?
The outcome will influence not only Hyundai’s battery project but also how “Korea Inc” and other global manufacturers plan staffing for future U.S. sites. For now, the message from Ellabell is unmistakable: the rules around U.S. visas for industrial specialists are under the brightest spotlight in years, and every misstep carries real-world cost.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal agents detained roughly 475 workers on September 4, 2025, during a multi-agency raid at the Hyundai–LG battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia. The operation, described as the largest single-site enforcement in HSI history, targeted alleged misuse of U.S. visa categories that brought specialized overseas technicians to perform installation, commissioning and integration tasks. More than 300 detainees were South Korean nationals; Seoul arranged charter flights for repatriation. The raid halted construction at the $5.5 billion project, creating legal disputes over visa interpretation and immediate economic impacts for contractors, suppliers and local communities. Attorneys defending detained workers argue the visas have long been used in industry practice; federal officials say enforcement priorities have shifted. The case raises sector-wide consequences: companies are reassessing staffing, compliance, and training; policymakers may clarify visa definitions; and diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and South Korea has intensified as legal proceedings continue.
