September 4, 2025
ICE detains about 475 workers at Hyundai–LG battery site in Georgia amid diplomatic protest
Corporate immunity meets diplomatic blowback in immigration crackdown
🛂Immigration🌍Foreign Policy👷Labor
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.
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.
🛂Immigration🌍Foreign Policy👷Labor
People, bills, and sources
Steven Schrank
HSI special agent in charge, Atlanta
Lee Jae‑myung
President of South Korea
Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia
What You Can Do
1
civic action
Request congressional hearings on contractor oversight
Push representatives to hold hearings on how federal incentives and subcontracting chains leave accountability gaps for immigration compliance.
info@oversight.
2
practicing
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.
info@
3
understanding
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.
publicaffairs@hq.