ICE detains about 475 workers at Hyundai–LG battery site in Georgia amid diplomatic protest
Corporate immunity meets diplomatic blowback in immigration crackdown
On Sept. 4, 2025, Homeland Security agents detained roughly 475 people at the Hyundai–LG battery construction site near Ellabell, Ga. Most detainees were South Korean nationals. President Trump had announced on July 31, 2025 that South Korea would invest $350 billion in U.S. projects and buy $100 billion in LNG, but Seoul did not publish full details and Reuters noted the terms were not independently verified. The raid came on Sept. 4, 2025, about five weeks after the July 31 announcement, and it triggered urgent diplomatic exchanges as Seoul sought consular help and repatriation for many detainees.
Why this matters
<ul> <li><strong>🔹 Corporate liability shield exposed</strong>: Hyundai benefited from 475 unauthorized workers building their battery plant while claiming "zero knowledge" through subcontractor arrangements, showing how major corporations systematically avoid immigration consequences while profiting from potentially cheaper labor</li> <li><strong>🔹 Trade deal leverage destroyed</strong>: Trump demanded $350 billion in South Korean investments then immediately raided their flagship project, demonstrating how immigration enforcement can undermine international economic partnerships and damage relationships with key allies</li> <li><strong>🔹 Visa system enables exploitation</strong>: Over 300 South Korean engineers worked construction jobs despite visa waiver prohibitions, facing lifetime U.S. entry bans while having no labor protections—revealing how immigration status creates maximum worker vulnerability</li> <li><strong>🔹 State incentive accountability gap</strong>: Georgia provided $2.1 billion in taxpayer incentives to Hyundai without enforceable immigration compliance requirements, allowing the company to use unauthorized labor while receiving massive public subsidies</li> </ul>
Core Facts
HSI and ICE detained approximately 475 people at the Hyundai–LG battery construction site on Sept. 4, 2025, in Ellabell, Georgia.
More than 300 detainees were South Korean nationals; many others were from Mexico, China, Japan and Indonesia.
Officials said the detained people included visa overstays, alleged unauthorized workers and some who entered without authorization; investigators flagged misuse of short‑term business entries in several cases.
On July 31, 2025 President Trump announced a deal saying South Korea would invest $350 billion in U.S. projects and purchase $100 billion in U.S. energy. Reuters and others reported that Seoul had not yet detailed or fully confirmed the terms.
South Korea arranged transport and consular assistance to repatriate hundreds of detained nationals; reporting cites a Korean Air charter flight and government coordination.
Hyundai said none of the detainees were directly employed by the company and that contractors handled the workers. Investigators executed judicial warrants seeking records tied to alleged concealment or harboring of unauthorized workers.
Key Actors
Steven Schrank
HSI special agent in charge, Atlanta
Helped lead the investigation and delivered public briefing that the operation detained about 475 people and targeted unlawful hiring practices
Lee Jae‑myung
President of South Korea
Directed diplomatic and consular efforts after hundreds of South Korean nationals were detained and sought their prompt return
Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia
Backed the state's economic development project and its incentives; state incentives for the broader Hyundai project have been reported, but exact figures cited in initial drafts require verification
Actionable Insights
Request congressional hearings on contractor oversight
Push representatives to hold hearings on how federal incentives and subcontracting chains leave accountability gaps for immigration compliance.
Ask your state economic development office for subcontractor provisions
File public records requests to see whether incentive deals require immigration compliance checks and vetting of subcontractors.
Demand DHS publish enforcement guidance affecting foreign technicians
Urge the Department of Homeland Security to clarify rules for temporary technical crews under B visitor entries and to publish guidance for firms bringing specialists.
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