Last week, a significant immigration operation unfolded at a Georgia Hyundai manufacturing plant, where hundreds of federal, state, and local officers executed a judicial search warrant targeting four individuals. This high-stakes raid resulted in the arrest of over 450 individuals suspected of living and working illegally in the United States, marking the largest immigration enforcement action under the Trump administration. The operation has drawn international attention, prompting South Korea's foreign minister to offer to travel to Washington, DC, to engage directly with US officials regarding the situation.
According to officials, the vast majority of those arrested—more than 300 individuals—were South Korean nationals. They are set to return to South Korea on a chartered flight, a move that immigration attorneys describe as unprecedented. Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney representing several detainees, stated, “I do not know of another instance where a government has responded with chartering a flight.” The South Korean government, in conjunction with its embassy in Washington, DC, and its consulate in Atlanta, is actively working to facilitate the release of these workers.
South Korea's Foreign Affairs Minister, Cho Hyun, is scheduled to depart Seoul for Washington, DC, to expedite the voluntary return of the detained nationals. The South Korean government has pledged to implement all necessary measures to ensure the swift release of their citizens and to stabilize ongoing investment projects in the US, according to South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff, Kang Hoon-sik.
The Hyundai Metaplant, spanning 2,900 acres, consists of two main facilities: a manufacturing site for electric vehicles (EVs) and an EV battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions. This plant is expected to provide up to 8,500 jobs upon completion. However, the recent raid has halted construction at the battery facility, raising concerns about job security and investment in the region.
The situation surrounding the detained workers is complex. According to Jorge Gavilanes, an Atlanta-based immigration attorney, the actions taken by the South Korean government are “not the normal course of business.” The visa statuses of the detained individuals remain unclear. Some of the 475 arrested had entered the US illegally, while others had overstayed their visas or entered under the US Visa Waiver Program, which allows for a stay of up to 90 days for business or tourism purposes. Gavilanes pointed out that once individuals enter under this program, they lack the opportunity to contest their removal, resulting in automatic orders from ICE.
Georgia immigration attorney Charles Kuck revealed that two of his clients were among those detained after arriving from South Korea under a visa waiver. While none of the detainees were employees of Hyundai, approximately 50 worked for LG Energy Solutions, and another 250 were employed by HL-GA Battery Company LLC, which operates under the Hyundai and LG partnership. In a statement, LG Energy Solutions expressed its commitment to cooperating with authorities to ensure the safe and prompt return of its employees.
Outside the Hyundai Metaplant, protesters gathered, voicing their demands for justice for the detained workers. “These people have families and loved ones, and they have no contact with them,” said a protester named Kim, condemning the raid as “disgusting.” The community's response underscores the emotional toll and human impact of immigration enforcement actions.
The raid occurred at the Hyundai Metaplant located in Ellabell, Georgia, approximately 25 miles west of Savannah. The facility, which is central to Hyundai’s ambition to lead the EV market in the US, has been in the spotlight since the state of Georgia reached an agreement with the company to develop the nation’s first dedicated fully electrified vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities. The recent immigration crackdown has not only disrupted the lives of hundreds of workers but also halted significant construction projects essential for the future of electric vehicle production in the region.
The massive immigration raid at the Hyundai Metaplant has raised serious questions about the future of the workers involved, the implications for US-South Korea relations, and the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration policies in the United States. As the situation develops, the focus remains on the swift resolution and return of the detained individuals to their home country.
