A massive ICE raid at a Hyundai battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia Thursday resulted in 475 arrests of workers in the U.S. illegally or who violated terms of their immigrant visas–with the majority of the illegal workers arrested being South Korean, according to comments by Special Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia Steven Schrank at a press briefing in Savannah Friday morning. (Previous TGP report.)
Shrank said this has been a long running investigation. Local media has been reporting since late last year on troubles at the site involving illegal aliens and workplace deaths:
WTOC-TV reported several workers have died at the Hyundai battery plant construction site (excerpt):
Our WTOC Investigates team has been following this since last December, previously covering the Hyundai megasite’s alleged use of undocumented immigrants (who some workers say have been exploited due to their legal status), safety issues during the plant’s construction, the lack of local labor companies involved, and a federal lawsuit filed against the Hyundai plant contractor.
Kevin Souza, who worked construction at the plant, blew the whistle on the safety of the Hyundai megasite, saying undocumented workers were working in unsafe conditions.
Since we first spoke with Kevin, multiple people have died at the construction site.
Press briefing video posted by WSAV-TV:
Video clip posted by the RNC:
The Trump administration detained 475 illegal aliens at a Hyundai site in Georgia: “We are sending a clear and unequivocal message that those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable.” pic.twitter.com/EZs6jCtPgD
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 5, 2025
The South Korean government issued a statement on the raid Friday:
South Korea’s government said its citizens’ rights must not be violated in the course of Korean businesses’ work in the US, noting ‘many’ of its nationals had been detained after an immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor facility in Georgia https://t.co/vO1jyRWPWN pic.twitter.com/nsilxUlyi2
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 5, 2025
NBC News reported on the South Korean statement and a response by the White House (excerpt):
“In the course of U.S. law enforcement, the economic activities of our investment firms and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed upon,” said Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry. “We conveyed our concern and regret to the U.S. Embassy today and urged them to take special care to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of our nationals are not violated.”
Jae-woong added that an on-site task force will be established in Georgia with the help of the South Korean consulate in Atlanta.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told NBC News in a statement that President Donald Trump remains committed “to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.”
“The United States is proud to be a home for major investments and looks forward to continuing to build on these historic investments and partnerships that President Trump has secured, Jackson said. “Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations.”
Press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia:
OPERATION LOW VOLTAGE- Homeland Security Investigations Executes Federal Search Warrant at the HL-GA Battery Company, LLC, located on the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant American Campus in Ellabell, Georgia
Hundreds of Illegal Workers Found Working at the HL-GA Battery Company
Ellabell, Georgia, Southern District of Georgia: On September 4, 2025, hundreds of federal agents executed a federal search warrant at the HL-GA Battery Company, LLC, in Ellabell, Georgia, searching for evidence related to the unlawful employment of illegal aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324. Upon execution of the criminal search warrant, several people attempted to flee the location. For example, a handful of people ran into a sewage pond located on the premises. Agents used a boat to fish them out of the water. One of the individuals swam under the boat and tried to flip it over to no avail. These people were captured and identified as illegal workers.Over the course of the day, federal, state, and local law enforcement executed the search warrant and identified hundreds of illegal workers. Law enforcement identified over 475 people who were unlawfully working at the location.
United States Attorney Margaret E. Heap states: “This was a significant undertaking with substantial results. Over 400 agents participated in this massive event, and over 400 illegal workers were identified and detained. The goal of this operation is to reduce illegal employment and prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers. Another goal is to protect unauthorized workers from exploitation.”
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Marshal Service (USMS), and Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Tania Groover, Ryan Bondura, Kelsey Scanlon, and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr., are investigating this case.
The investigation is ongoing. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Oilfield Rando raised a question about incentives given to Hyundai by Georgia to create American jobs that instead went to hundreds of illegals, many from South Korea:
Georgia gave Hyundai $2.1 billion in incentives to build this plant under the premise that it would create “American jobs”.
Then Hyundai brought in an army of illegal Korean workers.
Georgia Republicans and Hyundai must answer for this. https://t.co/RS0v57N9nW pic.twitter.com/qxIt6AxSAJ
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) September 5, 2025
The AP reported a statement by Hyundai that none of the arrested illegals were “directly employed” by Hyundai (excerpt):
The battery plant operated by HL-GA Battery Co., a joint venture by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is slated to open next year.
In a statement to The Associated Press, LG said it was “closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details.” It said it couldn’t immediately confirm how many of its employees or Hyundai workers had been detained.
“Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities,” the company said.
Operations at Hyundai’s EV manufacturing plant weren’t interrupted by the raid, said plant spokesperson Bianca Johnson. Hyundai Motor Company said in a statement Friday it was “working to understand the specific circumstances” of the raid and detentions.
“As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,” the company’s statement said. “We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate.”
Hyundai posted a promotional video last April for the Georgia car plant:
Take a tour of our new facility in Bryan County, Georgia! With cutting-edge technology, the @HMGMetaplant is at work to deliver class-leading electric and hybrid vehicles. pic.twitter.com/06UQTiwvjU
— Hyundai USA (@Hyundai) April 3, 2025
Two years ago, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) announced Hyundai’s plans to invest more billions in the Bryan County plant:
The largest project in state history is growing again, bringing even more jobs and opportunity!
⁰Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution will invest an additional $2B in their joint venture at the Bryan Co. Metaplant, raising total investment to more than $4.3B. pic.twitter.com/CEIxpr9phS— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) August 31, 2023
The post UPDATE: South Koreans Are Majority of the 475 Illegal Alien Workers Arrested in ICE Raid at Hyundai Battery Plant Construction Site in Georgia appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.