Multiple South Korean citizens held during an immigration check at a Hyundai facility in Georgia, according to South Korean officials.
Hyundai, one of Georgia's largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites, was the focus of an immigration raid earlier this week. The facility in Ellabell, which employs about 1,400 people, is part of a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal agencies conducted the operation, which was in connection with an investigation into unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.
A video posted on social media shows HSI agents inside the construction site at Hyundai's facility in Ellabell. Hundreds of undercover law enforcement vehicles and Humvees were seen at the scene, along with large buses entering the site. The exact number of individuals taken into custody during the raid remains unclear.
South Korea has expressed concern and regret to the U.S. Embassy over the raid. Many South Korean nationals were detained during the operation. South Korea pledged $350 billion in U.S. investment in July to lower President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on its products, which were eventually set at 15%.
Hyundai is cooperating with law enforcement and is committed to abiding by all labor and immigration regulations. Mary Beth Kennedy, a spokesperson for HL-GA Battery Co., LG Energy Solution, and Hyundai's joint venture, stated that they are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities and have paused construction.
The investigation is a complex case requiring strong collaboration and extensive investigative efforts. The ICE spokesperson stated that the investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law.
Hyundai's initiatives, including a new $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana, expanded U.S. auto production capacity, and a state-of-the-art robotics facility, are expected to create about 25,000 new direct jobs in the U.S. over the next four years. The company announced in March that it would invest $21 billion in U.S. onshoring from 2025 to 2028, a number that has since increased to $26 billion.
The leader of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia involved in the raid is not explicitly named in the available search results. The DEA Special Agent in Charge for the Atlanta Division is Robert Murphy, but no direct link to Homeland Security Investigations or the raid is stated. The investigation is expected to continue beyond Thursday, but no specific timeline was provided.
