ICE Raids Halt Work at Hyundai’s Georgia Battery Plant

Hundreds of workers detained in largest single-site immigration enforcement, pausing construction on $4.3 billion joint venture.

Lead U.S. immigration agents arrested up to 475 workers at Hyundai Motor’s under-construction EV battery facility in Ellabell, Georgia, on September 5, halting work at one of the Korean automaker’s biggest U.S. investments.

Nut Graf The raid-the largest-ever Homeland Security single-site operation-has thrust Hyundai’s $4.3 billion joint venture with LG Energy Solution into diplomatic friction, as Seoul protests what it calls unfair treatment of its nationals and investors.

Work Paused, Production Unaffected

  • Federal agents executed a judicial search warrant after a months-long probe into alleged illegal employment practices.
  • Construction on the car battery factory stopped immediately; existing EV assembly operations at Hyundai’s adjacent manufacturing plant remain unaffected.

Diplomatic Tensions Rise

  • South Korea’s foreign ministry lodged formal regret and urged U.S. authorities to protect the rights of its citizens and investors.
  • The incident threatens to strain trade talks covering $350 billion in bilateral investments pledged during a recent summit.

Enforcement Operation Details

  • Homeland Security Investigations special agent Steven Schrank called it “the largest enforcement action at a single location in DHS history.”
  • Detainees, mostly Korean nationals suspected of visa overstays or illegal entry, are held at ICE facilities pending processing.
  • Hyundai and LGES say they are cooperating fully, prioritizing worker welfare and compliance with all laws.

Economic Stakes

  • The battery plant, part of Hyundai’s broader $12.6 billion Georgia investment, was scheduled to begin cell production by year’s end.
  • The facility is expected to supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric models and create thousands of jobs in rural Georgia.

Next Steps Federal and state officials plan further briefings as investigations continue. Seoul has dispatched diplomats to Atlanta and Washington to negotiate detainee releases and safeguard future investment projects.