South Korea and the United States have reached an agreement to repatriate more than 300 South Korean nationals detained during a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia.
The operation, carried out on September 4, 2025, is the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), arrested 475 individuals at the site, including workers alleged to be employed without proper authorization.
Officials said the detainees were linked to contractors and subcontractors at the plant, which represents one of the largest foreign investments in Georgia and is central to Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution’s U.S. expansion.
Video footage released by ICE showed workers wearing safety vests marked with “Hyundai” and “LG CNS” being detained outside the facility. South Korean media warned the raid could affect business operations in the United States. By September 7, Seoul announced that talks with Washington had concluded and a chartered flight would bring the detainees home once administrative procedures were completed.
South Korean officials emphasized the need to review visa processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. “We are trying to improve the visa system to prevent such incidents,” said Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to President Lee Jae Myung.
The Hyundai–LG plant, slated to employ 1,200 workers, has been described by state authorities as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. The raid halted construction and raised questions over staffing of multinational projects amid tighter U.S. immigration enforcement.
The ICE operation followed months of investigation into alleged illegal hiring practices. Authorities said the probe had not yet determined which company or contractor was responsible for hiring unauthorized workers. Steven Schrank, HSI special agent in charge for Georgia and Alabama, stated that the action was aimed at protecting U.S. jobs.
Some detainees had entered the U.S. unlawfully, while others were on temporary visas or visa waivers that do not permit work. Legal representatives noted that some workers had come for short-term visits and had no plans to remain in the country. ICE clarified that detention in some cases related to prior criminal records, not visa status alone.
Hyundai Motor Company said none of those detained were directly employed by the firm, and the company is reviewing contractor practices. LG Energy Solution reported that 47 of its employees and roughly 250 contractor workers were among those detained and has suspended most U.S. business trips for staff.
The White House defended the raid. President Donald Trump stated, “They were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job.” ICE emphasized that those on short-term or recreational visas are not authorized to work and the operation protects the U.S. workforce.
South Korea has pledged to continue investment in U.S. manufacturing while reviewing visa procedures to prevent recurrence. A senior official said the government is “working closely with U.S. authorities to ensure the safe and prompt return of our nationals and to review the processes that led to this incident.”
Legal advocacy groups highlighted the human impact of the raid. Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta noted that the targeted workers are “everyday people trying to feed their families and build stronger communities.”
As of Sunday, detainees remained at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, awaiting repatriation. The raid has paused construction and heightened diplomatic concerns, underscoring the challenges of global investment amid shifting immigration policies.
Hyundai Motor has advised staff who were about to go on business trips next week to the US to delay them unless considered indispensable, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun headed to the US on Monday as he seeks to resolve the fallout over the detention of hundreds of Korean workers during an immigration raid at a time when Seoul has committed to massive investment plans in America.
