US immigration authorities carried out a large raid at Hyundai’s 3,000-acre electric vehicle plant in Bryan County, Georgia, leading to the detention of more than 450 people. The facility, which has been in operation for a year, was billed as the largest economic development project in the state’s history and employs more than 1,200 workers. Federal officials said the search warrant was issued over allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the action, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and several other agencies during the operation.
The South Korean foreign ministry reported that its nationals were among those arrested, though it remains unclear how many were detained. The ministry strongly objected to what it described as an unfair infringement on the rights of its citizens. Seoul said it was sending diplomats to the site to assist and had already communicated its concerns directly to the US Embassy in Korea. The raid also temporarily halted work at an adjacent battery plant that is under construction. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had previously hailed Hyundai’s expansion as a landmark project for the state’s economy.
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The raid has quickly escalated into a diplomatic issue. In a statement, South Korea’s foreign ministry said the economic activities of its businesses in the United States should not be harmed by law enforcement measures. It added that protecting the rights and interests of South Korean nationals remains a top priority. Officials in Seoul expressed regret over the operation and urged US authorities to act with caution in order to prevent unfair treatment.
The timing of the operation also carries political weight in the United States. President Donald Trump, who is campaigning for a second term, has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants if re-elected. While he has said his priority would be the removal of those convicted of crimes, the raid in Georgia reflects the scale of enforcement his administration has vowed to pursue.
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Hyundai has yet to issue a full statement on the matter, but the detention of hundreds of workers raises significant questions about the company’s hiring practices, subcontractors, and oversight at one of its flagship projects. The disruption also underlines the tension between economic development ambitions in Georgia and federal immigration crackdowns. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by both industry leaders and political observers.
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