— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 475 people, most of them South Korean nationals, on Sept. 5 at an electric-vehicle battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. The large enforcement action at the Hyundai Motor Group–LG Energy Solution joint venture has prompted urgent diplomatic concern in Seoul and immediate corporate and state responses in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- ICE announced what it called the largest single-site enforcement operation in Homeland Security Investigations history, detaining 475 people at the Ellabell battery facility.
- South Korea’s foreign minister and President Lee Jae Myung urged rapid resolution and protection of nationals’ rights; a ministerial U.S. visit is being considered.
- Officials said detainees were either unlawfully present or working without authorization; Hyundai says none were directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company.
- LG Energy Solution suspended U.S. business travel and sent HR leadership to the site to address employee safety and repatriation concerns.
- The operation drew support from some Georgia officials and Republican lawmakers and criticism from Democrats who cited worker exploitation and due-process concerns.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 5, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed an enforcement operation at the Hyundai Metaplant America battery campus in Ellabell, near Savannah, Georgia. ICE released video showing officers taking individuals into custody and loading them onto buses; authorities described the action as the culmination of a months-long investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number detained | 475 |
| Majority nationality | South Korean nationals (per officials) |
| Location | Ellabell, Georgia (Hyundai–LG battery plant site) |
| Companies involved | Hyundai Motor Group; LG Energy Solution (joint venture site) |
HSI special agent Steven Schrank said the detained individuals were either present in the United States unlawfully or were working without proper authorization. ICE framed the raid as an enforcement of federal immigration laws and protection of jobs for American workers.
Hyundai Motor Company issued a statement saying, based on its current understanding, none of those detained were directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company and that the firm will conduct an internal review of employment compliance. LG Energy Solution announced a suspension of U.S. business travel and said its HR chief was traveling to the U.S. to assist employees and coordinate next steps.
Context & Impact
The plant is a high-profile foreign investment in Georgia and part of broader U.S. efforts to expand domestic electric-vehicle supply chains. Georgia leaders had promoted the project as a major economic win; Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said state agencies cooperated with federal authorities and that the state will enforce all laws.
The timing complicates relations between Washington and Seoul. South Korean officials view the detentions as a consular and diplomatic matter, and Seoul has signaled it may seek direct talks with U.S. administration officials to secure the rights and rapid assistance for its nationals.
Domestically, the enforcement has sharpened partisan debate. Supporters of the raid framed it as immigration-law enforcement and protection of local labor markets. Critics, including Senator Raphael Warnock, questioned how the alleged hiring violations occurred and warned of potential politically motivated consequences and due-process concerns for detainees.
Official Statements
“This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans,”
Steven Schrank, HSI special agent in charge (Georgia & Alabama)
“Based on our current understanding, none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,”
Hyundai Motor Company statement
“We will make every effort to promptly resolve the situation, including ensuring the speedy and safe return of all employees,”
LG Energy Solution statement
Unconfirmed
- Exact employment relationships for every detained individual remain under review; corporate statements assert many were not direct Hyundai employees.
- Publicly available nationality breakdowns beyond “most” being South Korean have not been fully published by officials.
- Details on immigration-processing timelines, individual case statuses and planned deportation schedules were not fully disclosed at the time of reporting.
Bottom Line
The mass arrests at the Ellabell battery plant have immediate diplomatic and commercial ramifications: Seoul is pressing for rapid action to protect its nationals, Hyundai and LG are moving to manage worker welfare and compliance reviews, and Georgia officials defend law enforcement cooperation. The episode is likely to prompt closer scrutiny of hiring practices at large foreign-invested facilities and could spark bilateral discussions between the U.S. and South Korea.