— Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced they detained 475 people at a construction site on the Hyundai Metaplant campus near Savannah during a Thursday operation, calling it the largest single-site enforcement action in HSI history. The arrests were part of a months-long probe into alleged undocumented and illegal work connected to a battery facility under construction in Bryan County.
Key Takeaways
- HSI says 475 people were detained at the Hyundai Metaplant construction campus near Savannah.
- Officials described the operation as the largest single-site enforcement action in HSI history.
- The detentions relate to a months-long investigation of alleged undocumented and illegal work at a battery plant being built in Bryan County.
- The Metaplant campus spans roughly 3,000 acres and is part of a $12.6 billion Georgia investment that includes an EV assembly plant and battery facility.
- The Hyundai assembly plant portion opened in October 2024; the battery factory remained under construction at the time of the operation.
- Detained individuals were taken into ICE custody; regional processing capacity and detention arrangements have drawn renewed attention.
- South Korea’s government and Georgia officials have expressed concern and called for further details about the operation and its impact.
Verified Facts
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials said the operation occurred on a Thursday and was publicly announced the following day. Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, told reporters the arrests resulted from a months-long investigation focused on alleged undocumented and unlawful employment at a battery plant under construction on Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant site in Bryan County, Georgia.
The Metaplant site covers about 3,000 acres and is part of an estimated $12.6 billion development that includes an electric-vehicle assembly plant and a separate battery facility. The EV assembly plant opened in October 2024 along I-16 west of Savannah; the battery factory was under construction when the enforcement action occurred.
HSI described this operation as “the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations across the country.” HSI was established in 2010 as a division within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Following the detentions, individuals were taken into ICE custody. Local and federal officials have noted the Folkston ICE Processing Center as a regional facility with current capacity limits and previously reported proposals to expand capacity under county agreements.
Context & Impact
The Metaplant development has been a centerpiece of Georgia’s economic outreach, with state leaders highlighting projected jobs and investment. The recent enforcement action raises immediate questions about labor sourcing, contractor oversight and compliance with immigration and employment laws.
Potential impacts include:
- Construction delays if key crews are detained or contractors are subject to enforcement actions.
- Heightened scrutiny of hiring practices across the regional supply chain and among subcontractors.
- Political and diplomatic attention: South Korea and local leaders have publicly expressed concern and requested additional information.
Industry and local officials have previously announced fast construction timelines and large resource needs for the site, including significant freshwater usage reported for operations. Worker-safety record and subcontractor practices at several new Georgia manufacturing projects have also attracted public scrutiny in recent months.
“This, in fact, was the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations across the country.”
Steven Schrank, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Atlanta
Unconfirmed
- Specifics about which companies or subcontractors knowingly hired undocumented workers remain under investigation.
- Allegations reported elsewhere that particular groups of engineers were deliberately misled into manual-labor roles have not been independently verified by HSI or prosecutors.
Bottom Line
The large-scale detention at Hyundai’s Metaplant construction site marks a significant enforcement milestone for HSI and puts a major Georgia economic project under increased legal and public scrutiny. Expect follow-up reporting on charges filed, contractor accountability, potential project delays and any diplomatic exchanges with South Korea as agencies and stakeholders disclose more details.