On Thursday, a significant raid conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resulted in the detention of hundreds of workers at a factory under construction in Georgia, intended to produce car batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles. This facility is part of a groundbreaking project that promises to be the largest industrial investment in Georgia's history, hailed by the state's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, as a critical boost to the local economy.
According to the Atlanta office of the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at least 450 individuals were arrested during the operation. However, reports from the Korea Economic Daily indicated that the number could be as high as 560, citing unidentified industry sources. Among those detained, approximately 300 are reported to be South Korean nationals, as highlighted by local media.
This raid represents a significant setback for Hyundai, a prominent South Korean automotive company with multiple international manufacturing plants. It underscores the ongoing impact of the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies on businesses in the United States, particularly in light of the White House's efforts to attract foreign investment.
According to an agent from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the raid was part of a judicially authorized enforcement operation involving multiple federal agencies, including ICE, the FBI, and the DEA. Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, confirmed during a news briefing that arrests were actively being made as part of an investigation into unlawful employment practices.
A South Korean government official confirmed that those arrested are being held at an ICE detention facility. In response to the situation, South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed concern, emphasizing that the rights of its citizens should not be compromised during the enforcement of US immigration laws. Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong stated, “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.”
The battery production facility is a joint venture between South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Hyundai Motor, with operations anticipated to begin by the end of this year. A spokesperson from the Hyundai-GA battery company confirmed that they are fully cooperating with authorities and have paused construction work. However, Hyundai has indicated that the production of electric vehicles at the site will not be affected.
In 2023, Hyundai Motor Group and LGES announced a substantial investment of $4.3 billion for this venture, with both companies holding equal stakes. The facility is designed to supply batteries for various Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicle models. This battery factory is part of Hyundai’s broader $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, which also includes a recently opened car manufacturing facility, marking it as a pivotal economic development project for the state.
Video footage shared on social media depicted ICE agents, identifiable by their vests marked with the acronym HIS (Homeland Security Investigations), instructing workers to cease all construction activities immediately. While former President Donald Trump has focused on deporting “the worst of the worst” criminals, statistics from ICE indicate a troubling rise in the apprehension of non-criminal individuals, prompting widespread condemnation from rights advocates.
While this raid in Georgia was significant, it was not an isolated incident. In upstate New York, another ICE operation occurred at the Nutrition Bar Confectioners facility near Syracuse, leading to the detention of dozens of workers. New York Governor Kathy Hochul publicly condemned the raids, expressing outrage at the impact on families, particularly those with children. “I’ve made it clear, New York will work with the federal government to secure our borders and deport violent criminals, but we will never stand for masked ICE agents separating families and abandoning children,” Hochul stressed.
Organizations such as the Rural & Migrant Ministry have reported an estimated 70 arrests in the New York incident, highlighting the growing tension surrounding immigration enforcement across the United States.
