Hundreds of workers at a Georgia factory under construction to produce car batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles were detained in a large-scale raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday, halting work at the site.
The factory is part of what would be the largest industrial investment in Georgia’s history and had been praised by the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, as a major economic boost.
According to the Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at least 450 people were arrested. However, the Korea Economic Daily later reported that around 560 workers from the Hyundai and LG Energy Solution (LGES) facility had been detained, citing unnamed industry sources. Local media reported that about 300 of those detained are South Korean nationals. Hyundai Motor is a South Korean company but operates many plants internationally.
The raid has dealt a significant blow to Hyundai’s major project in Georgia and represents a stark example of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
It also highlights the disruptive effect of Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda on businesses, even as the White House seeks to attract more foreign investment.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent stated that multiple federal agencies, including ICE, the FBI, and the DEA, carried out a court-approved enforcement operation as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal employment practices.
Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of homeland security investigations in Georgia, confirmed during a news briefing that arrests were being made.
A South Korean government official, representing Hyundai’s home country, said those arrested were being held at an ICE detention facility. South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed concern, noting that “many of our nationals” had been detained and emphasizing that the economic activities of South Korean companies and the rights of their citizens should not be unduly harmed during U.S. law enforcement operations.
The battery production plant, a joint venture between LGES and Hyundai, was scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year to supply batteries for electric vehicles. A spokesperson for the Hyundai-GA battery company in Georgia said construction had been paused and that the company was fully cooperating with authorities. Hyundai stated that electric vehicle production at the site was not affected.
In 2023, Hyundai Motor Group and LGES announced the $4.3 billion venture to produce EV battery cells, with each company holding a 50% stake. The plant will supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric models. The factory is part of Hyundai’s broader $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, which includes a recently opened car manufacturing plant and represents the largest economic development project in the state’s history. This investment is also part of Hyundai’s larger commitment to U.S. industry, announced in March as Trump was increasing tariffs.
Video footage from social media showed a person wearing a vest labeled “HIS” (Homeland Security Investigations) instructing workers in yellow safety vests to stop all work immediately due to a search warrant for the entire site.
While Trump has stated his focus is on deporting “the worst of the worst” criminals, ICE data has shown an increase in arrests of non-criminals. Such raids have been criticized by rights advocates.
Homeland Security Investigations led the operation, with support from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and state troopers, according to local media.In upstate New York, another major ICE raid occurred at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners facilities near Syracuse, where snack bars are produced by a family-owned company. The operation has drawn strong criticism from the state’s governor.
Officers forced their way into the industrial facility and detained dozens of workers.
New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul expressed outrage in a statement from her office, saying, “I am appalled by this morning’s ICE raids in Cato and Fulton, where more than 40 adults were taken, including parents of at least a dozen children who may come home from school to an empty house.”
She added, “I’ve made it clear that New York will cooperate with the federal government to secure our borders and deport violent criminals, but we will never tolerate masked ICE agents separating families and leaving children alone.”
The migrant advocacy group Rural & Migrant Ministry estimated on Facebook that more than 70 workers were arrested.
Reporting by Reuters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the major ICE raid at a US Hyundai factory designed to be clear and helpful
Basic Information The Event
What happened at the Hyundai factory
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a largescale raid detaining hundreds of workers suspected of being in the United States without legal authorization
When and where did this raid happen
The raid occurred on at a Hyundaiowned parts factory in
What is an ICE raid
An ICE raid is an enforcement operation where agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement locate arrest and detain individuals who are suspected of violating immigration laws
Why did ICE target this specific factory
ICE typically acts on leads or investigations suggesting a company is knowingly hiring people without legal work status The raid was likely the result of a longer investigation into the plants hiring practices
Impact on Workers Families
What happens to the workers who were detained
They are processed by ICE They could be placed in detention centers to await a hearing before an immigration judge where they may face deportation Some may be released on bond or with monitoring devices while their cases proceed
What about the families of the detained workers especially any children
This is a major humanitarian concern Children may be left without caregivers if a parent is detained They might be placed with other family members or in worstcase scenarios enter the foster care system This causes significant trauma and instability
Were any children detained in the raid
It is highly unlikely ICE has policies that generally avoid detaining minors in these types of operations The focus is typically on adult workers
What legal rights do the detained workers have
They have the right to remain silent the right to speak with a lawyer and the right to a hearing before an immigration judge They should not sign any documents they dont fully understand
Company Responsibility Broader Context
Is Hyundai in trouble for this
The factory was operated by a parts supplier SMART Alabama LLC which supplies Hyundai Both companies could face significant fines and legal penalties if its proven they knowingly hired unauthorized workers or failed
