Federal immigration agents raided a battery assembly site under construction near Ellabell, Ga., on Sept. 4–5, 2025, detaining nearly 500 people and pausing work at the HL‑GA Battery Company joint venture of LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group—an operation officials called the largest single‑site Homeland Security enforcement action in recent memory.
- Nearly 500 workers were detained during a multiagency immigration sweep at the HL‑GA Battery Company plant in Ellabell, Georgia.
- The facility is a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group; construction began in 2023 and forms part of a wider $12.6 billion investment complex.
- The plant had been slated to help create up to 8,500 jobs at the site by 2031 and contribute to nearly 40,000 statewide jobs tied to the development.
- Federal officials said the raid followed a months‑long probe into alleged unlawful employment practices; no criminal charges have been announced.
- South Korean officials and investors expressed concern that enforcement could chill future foreign investment tied to U.S. clean‑energy incentives.
- Local leaders and trades unions raised competing complaints about lost opportunities for Georgia workers and possible hired unauthorized labor.
- The action came amid a broader policy environment of expanded work‑site enforcement and new U.S. tariffs affecting automakers.
Verified Facts
The facility targeted in the enforcement action is part of a larger Hyundai‑LG electric vehicle complex on roughly 2,900 acres about 25 miles from Savannah. Company filings and state agreements show the battery project was eligible for up to $2.1 billion in tax incentives tied to a pledged $7.6 billion investment and employment targets through 2031.
Federal and state law‑enforcement agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia National Guard, participated in the operation, which U.S. attorneys described as intended to stop employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers. Officials characterized the raid as the largest Homeland Security enforcement action at a single site, though details about individual immigration statuses and roles have not been released.
Construction at the complex started in 2023. In the past three years, sources report three worker fatalities associated with projects at the site; those deaths have attracted scrutiny from local regulators and labor representatives. Hyundai has said none of its direct employees were being held and that it is reviewing compliance among contractors; LG Energy Solution confirmed some partner employees were detained and said it was working to secure their release.
Economic figures cited by state and company announcements indicate Hyundai planned additional U.S. investment—$21 billion between 2025 and 2028 on top of roughly $20.5 billion previously committed—and that the broader complex was promoted as generating thousands of jobs and regional economic activity.
Context & Impact
The raid occurred against a backdrop of rising U.S. work‑site enforcement and a simultaneous push to attract global manufacturers to build batteries, semiconductors and clean‑energy supply chains in the United States. Recent federal subsidies and state incentives accelerated factory construction, increasing demand for construction labor nationwide.
At the same time, new trade and tariff measures have reshaped business calculations: a 25 percent auto tariff imposed earlier in 2025 and subsequent negotiations that included a 15 percent tariff on other imports from South Korea have complicated the investment outlook for Korean automakers. Companies have reported sizable quarterly impacts—Hyundai cited more than $600 million in tariff‑related costs in the second quarter.
Local communities are feeling both economic and social effects: traffic and commute times have increased near the site, small businesses serving incoming workers report new customers, while long‑time residents say planning and consultation were insufficient.
- Regional job promises: local contractors say union trades were sidelined during portions of the build.
- Investor confidence: business groups warn that enforcement actions could send mixed signals to overseas investors.
- Policy tension: federal goals to expand domestic manufacturing are colliding with intensified immigration enforcement.
Official Statements
The U.S. attorney’s office said the operation aimed to prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers and to enforce federal immigration laws.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Georgia / Department of Homeland Security (paraphrased)
Hyundai noted that its direct employees were not detained and that it is undertaking a review of contractors to ensure legal compliance; LG Energy Solution confirmed partner staff were detained and said it was working to assist them.
Hyundai Motor Group; LG Energy Solution (paraphrased)
Unconfirmed
- The immigration statuses and exact roles of the nearly 500 individuals detained have not been publicly disclosed.
- Whether the investigation will result in criminal charges remains pending.
- Specific workplace conditions or contract practices cited during the investigation have not been fully documented in public records.
Bottom Line
The enforcement action has highlighted an emerging policy contradiction: U.S. efforts to onshore critical manufacturing by courting foreign capital collide with tougher work‑site immigration enforcement. The incident may prompt companies and governments to seek clearer assurances on labor compliance and investor protections, while local communities continue to weigh the economic gains against social disruptions.