ICE Raids Georgia Hyundai Plant, Detains 475 Workers

Lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a raid on Thursday at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, detaining 475 workers suspected of unauthorized employment.

Nut Graf The operation, authorized by a judicial search warrant in a multimonth probe of alleged unlawful hiring practices, marks the largest single-site enforcement action in ICE history and has drawn protests from the South Korean government over the treatment of its nationals.

Raid Details

  • Location: Hyundai-LG EV battery facility under construction, 30 miles west of Savannah, Georgia.
  • Time: Early morning Thursday, September 5, 2025.
  • Personnel: Approximately 400 federal agents from ICE, Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies.
  • Detainees: 475 individuals, predominantly South Korean nationals, all believed to lack proper work authorization.

Investigation Background

Agents obtained a warrant after gathering evidence, interviews and documents alleging contractors at the site hired undocumented laborers. Officials emphasized the raid was part of a broader criminal investigation into serious federal offenses, not merely an immigration sweep.

Reactions and Impact

  • Hyundai and LG: Both companies stated none of those detained are direct employees of Hyundai Motor Company and pledged cooperation with authorities while monitoring the situation.
  • South Korea: Foreign Ministry lodged formal “concern and regret,” dispatching consular teams to Georgia and establishing an on-site task force to safeguard citizens’ rights.
  • State Officials: Governor Brian Kemp affirmed the operation upholds both state and federal laws while praising the plant’s economic significance.

Broader Context

  • This enforcement action falls under the administration’s intensified workplace operations aimed at combating illegal employment in key industries.
  • The Ellabell facility, a $7.6 billion project expected to create 8,500 jobs, has paused battery plant construction pending investigation outcomes.
  • Similar raids occurred concurrently at a nutrition bar plant in New York, signaling a nationwide push on workplace enforcement.

Next Steps

Authorities will review detainees’ records and pursue any necessary criminal or administrative charges. A DHS press briefing is scheduled to provide further updates on the investigation’s scope and findings.