Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia undergoes raid by US authorities, leading to the detainment of approximately 450 workers, according to various reports.
Headline: U.S. Immigration Authorities Detain Approximately 450 Workers at Hyundai-LG Battery Plant Construction Site in Georgia
In a surprising turn of events, U.S. immigration authorities have detained around 450 workers at a construction site for an electric vehicle battery production facility in Ellabell, Georgia. The facility is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution.
Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Homeland Security Investigations carried out a search warrant at the site, leading to the mass arrests. The detainees are currently being held in a facility referred to as a "so-called inspection facility" near the Al-Mawasi coast.
The Koreans among those detained were in the United States on a B1 visa or under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program. Hyundai Motor Group headquarters in Seoul has yet to issue a statement about the raid, and LG Energy Solution is assessing the situation and cooperating with the Korean government and relevant authorities to ensure the safety and swift release of their employees and partner staff.
The construction site is part of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America's expansion, which aims to increase its production capacity from 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles. The expansion is focused on EV and hybrid car manufacturing. In addition to the battery plant, Hyundai Motor Group has planned multiple construction works in the U.S., including a new robot plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 units and a steel mill in Louisiana with a production capacity of 2.7 million tons.
Concerns have been raised about potential disruptions to Hyundai Motor Group's other projects in the U.S. as a result of the detention, which is part of an ongoing investigation into undocumented individuals. The Korean foreign ministry is gathering facts to understand the situation, and the Korean consulate in Atlanta is forming a legal team to visit the facility where the workers are being held.
As the situation unfolds, both Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure a swift resolution and the safe return of their employees and partners.
