U.S. officials say that many of the workers detained in a large immigration raid at a Hyundai battery facility in Georgia were in violation of their visitor visas.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that 475 individuals most of them South Korean nationals were discovered working illegally at the plant on Thursday. ICE stressed that people on tourist or short-term visas are not authorized to take up employment in the United States, adding that the raid was intended to safeguard American jobs.
The detainees are being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, while authorities determine their next steps. More than 300 of those arrested are believed to be from South Korea. Hyundai issued a statement clarifying that the individuals were not directly employed by the company. Its partner, LG Energy Solution, which co-operates the factory, said it was prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of its staff and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
South Korea’s foreign minister, Cho Hyun, expressed deep concern, saying he felt a “serious sense of responsibility” over the arrests and convened an emergency meeting in Seoul. Diplomats were dispatched to Georgia to monitor the situation and ensure the rights of South Korean citizens are respected.
ICE confirmed that the raid formed part of a broader criminal investigation. “Those taken into custody were working in violation of their visa terms or immigration status,” the agency said. However, some immigration lawyers argue that mistakes were made. Charles Kuck, based in Atlanta, told the New York Times that two of his clients were wrongly detained despite being in the U.S. legally under the visa waiver program, which allows short-term business or tourism visits. One of them had arrived only days earlier and was scheduled to depart the following week.
ICE also noted that one Mexican national with permanent residency was among those arrested, citing multiple prior criminal convictions.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Steven Schrank said the agency welcomes foreign investment but insisted companies must follow legal hiring processes. “This operation makes clear that those who abuse the system and exploit workers will face consequences,” he said.
South Korea’s foreign ministry responded that while it respected U.S. law enforcement, “the business activities of Korean firms and the rights of Korean nationals should not be unjustly infringed.”
The episode highlights a clash between U.S. policy priorities: encouraging overseas companies to invest in American manufacturing, while simultaneously cracking down on unauthorized labor. It also risks straining relations with South Korea, a key economic and strategic partner.
President Donald Trump, addressing the matter from the Oval Office, defended ICE’s actions. “They were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job,” he said, though he also emphasized the importance of maintaining good ties with allies.
The Georgia facility, hailed by the state’s Republican governor as the largest economic development project in its history, is part of a multibillion-dollar push into electric vehicles. It currently employs around 1,200 people.
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