U. S. authorities executed what Homeland Security termed the largest single-site enforcement action in its history, arresting approximately 475 individuals—predominantly South Korean nationals—at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solutions battery plant construction site on Thursday. The immigration raid, dubbed “Operation Low Voltage,” involved more than 400 officers and concluded a months-long investigation into unlawful employment practices.
Authorities said those detained were not directly employed by Hyundai but by a network of subcontractors servicing the site. Most were found to be working in violation of immigration law, whether entering unlawfully or overstaying visas. Hyundai Motor Group emphasised that none of its direct employees were among those detained. LG Energy Solutions confirmed it is cooperating fully with authorities and had paused construction, including at the Hyundai Halts Georgia Project After Major Worker Detention battery plant in question.
The facility, part of a joint venture with LG, represents one of the largest industrial investments in Georgia—valued between $4.3 billion and $7.6 billion—with the battery plant intended to support Hyundai’s Metaplant campus near Savannah.
South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed “regret and concern,” dispatching diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in Atlanta to engage with both authorities and companies. The ministry emphasised that the economic interests of South Korean investors and the rights of its citizens must not be unfairly infringed during U. S. law enforcement.
The raid comes amid broader trade tensions and negotiations, including commitments by South Korea for substantial U. S. investment—estimated at $350 billion—with Hyundai’s Georgia project accounting for a significant share. Within this context, the enforcement action highlights the friction between U. S. industrial policy incentivising foreign manufacturing and aggressive immigration enforcement.
Political reactions have diverged sharply. Georgia Democrats denounced the operation as politically motivated and detrimental to hardworking labourers, while state officials affirmed that enforcement of immigration laws remains a priority. The incident also reignites debate over workplace raids under the current administration and their impact on economic projects involving foreign partnerships. Operations at Hyundai’s adjacent electric-vehicle manufacturing plant were reportedly unaffected by the shutdown of battery-plant construction.
Topics
World