ICE Raids Georgia Hyundai Plant, Detains 475 Workers

ELLABELL, Georgia (Sept. 6, 2025) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents swept into the Hyundai-LG battery facility in Ellabell, Georgia, on Saturday, detaining 475 individuals-primarily South Korean nationals-suspected of working illegally on site.

Raid Shakes U.S.-South Korea Relations

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry convened an emergency meeting to address the mass detentions and dispatched diplomats to Georgia, warning that enforcement actions must not infringe unduly on investors’ rights or business operations.

Key Details

• Target: Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution’s joint-venture battery plant under construction on a 2,900-acre site near Savannah.
• Arrests: 475 workers held at ICE’s Folkston facility, accused of unauthorized employment under visa waivers or overstays.
• Operation: Dubbed “Operation Low Voltage,” it involved over 400 federal officers from ICE, Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies after a multi-month probe.
• Reaction: Hyundai Motor stated none of those detained were its direct employees and vowed to investigate suppliers and subcontractors for legal compliance.
• Political Impact: The raid marks the largest single-site enforcement action in DHS history and risks straining trade talks amid Seoul’s pledge of $150 billion in U.S. investments.

Aftermath and Next Steps

ICE officials indicated that further arrests or charges may follow as the investigation continues. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp affirmed cooperation with federal authorities, while labor advocates condemned the raid as politically driven and harmful to immigrant communities. Hyundai and LG paused construction on the battery plant and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement.