US immigration authorities carried out a sweeping raid at Hyundai’s massive manufacturing site in Georgia, arresting more than 450 people in what officials described as one of the largest operations of its kind in recent years. The facility, a 3,000-acre complex built by the South Korean automaker to produce electric vehicles, has been operational for only a year.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents executed a search warrant based on allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes. The raid involved several agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The South Korean foreign ministry confirmed that Korean nationals were among those detained, calling the arrests an “unjust infringement” on their rights. In a statement, it urged Washington to ensure that Korean citizens’ interests were not harmed during law enforcement operations. Diplomats have been dispatched to Georgia, while Seoul also raised concerns directly with the US Embassy in Korea.
“The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon,” the ministry said, stressing its expectation of “extreme caution” in handling the case.
Videos circulating on social media showed federal agents lining up workers and announcing the search warrant before escorting groups out of the plant. Reports suggest that hundreds of South Koreans could be among those detained, though exact figures remain unclear.
The Hyundai complex had been heralded by Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, as the largest economic development project in state history, employing around 1,200 people. South Korean firms have pledged billions of dollars in investments across key US industries, including electric vehicles and battery manufacturing, in part to avoid tariffs and strengthen ties with Washington.
The federal operation also halted construction at an adjacent battery plant, CBS News reported. The disruption raises questions about the stability of such high-profile foreign investments in the United States amid heightened scrutiny of immigration and labor practices.
President Donald Trump, who is running for a second term, campaigned on a promise of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. While he has said his administration would prioritize removing individuals with criminal records, Friday’s raid underscores how far-reaching immigration enforcement could become.
The arrests are expected to fuel political debate in both Washington and Seoul. For the US, the operation reflects the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement. For South Korea, it raises fears that legitimate workers could be swept up in mass actions, potentially straining economic and diplomatic relations.
As investigations continue, the future of Hyundai’s Georgia site and its workforce remains uncertain, casting a shadow over one of the state’s most celebrated industrial investments.
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