Hyundai US plant raided, 475 workers face arrest
Hyundai factory (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Over 475 workers at the Hyundai plant in Georgia were detained on Friday, September 5, during a large-scale raid by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident has already raised concerns in South Korea, according to The Guardian.
Hundreds of employees at the Georgia plant, being built to produce batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles, were detained during the major ICE operation.
The operation halted construction and became one of the largest single law enforcement actions in the history of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to ICE, approximately 475 workers were arrested on Friday, of whom about 300 are South Korean citizens.
Hyundai Motor is a South Korean company with numerous international plants. The Georgia plant is part of the largest industrial investment in the state’s history, which Republican Governor Brian Kemp called a huge boost for the economy.
The raid demonstrated the Trump administration’s strict policy on immigration and showed how mass deportations can impact business, even as the White House seeks to encourage foreign investment.
“Multiple federal agencies, including Ice, the FBI and the DEA conducted a judicially authorized enforcement operation, as we are actively conducting an investigation into unlawful employment practices,” said Special Agent Steven Schrank at a briefing. According to him, most of those detained are being held at the ICE detention center in Folkston, Georgia, and many of them are South Korean citizens.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed serious concern over the arrests of its citizens, noting that the economic activities of companies investing in the US should not be disrupted.
“The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of US law enforcement,” said spokesperson Lee Jae-woong.
Representatives of Hyundai-GA confirmed full cooperation with authorities and a temporary halt to construction work, while stating that none of those detained were direct employees of the automaker, which complies with all laws. Electric vehicle production at the site was not affected.
The plant is part of Hyundai’s $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, including the company’s automotive factory, and is part of the South Korean company’s larger investments in the US industry. The total value of the Hyundai-LGES joint venture is $4.3 billion, with each company owning 50% of the shares.
The raid drew criticism from human rights advocates, as a significant portion of those detained are not criminals.
Federal officers were assisted by the Georgia Department of Public Safety and state patrol, and the operation highlighted the complex balance between ensuring national security and encouraging foreign investment in the US.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing punishment of countries for the illegal detention of Americans, including sanctions and travel restrictions, to protect US citizens.
Additionally, President Trump signed an order restoring the US Department of War.
Trump also announced that the 2026 G20 Summit will, for the first time in 20 years, take place in the US, with Miami as the host city.
