Hyundai's Georgia EV Plant Rocked by Large-Scale ICE Raid
Construction halted at the $4.3 billion battery joint venture after federal agents detained nearly 500 workers in a historic operation.
A massive federal immigration raid has halted construction at Hyundai Motor's new $4.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, a critical component of the automaker's U.S. manufacturing strategy. In what officials described as the , federal agents detained approximately 475 workers suspected of being in the country illegally.
The operation on Thursday targeted the construction site of the battery facility, a joint venture with LG Energy Solution, which is part of a broader $12.6 billion investment by Hyundai in the state. The raid was the culmination of a months-long probe into unlawful employment practices. According to federal authorities, most of the detained individuals were Korean nationals working for various subcontractors at the sprawling site.
Hyundai Motor Company quickly distanced itself from the incident, stating that none of those detained were direct employees. "Hyundai is committed to full compliance with all laws and regulations in every market where we operate," the company said in a statement. "We are reviewing our processes to ensure that all parties working on our projects maintain the same high standards of legal compliance that we demand of ourselves."
The raid deals a significant setback to a project hailed as the . While production at Hyundai's main EV manufacturing plant was reportedly unaffected, the shutdown at the battery site creates uncertainty for the company's electric vehicle production timeline. The South Korean Foreign Ministry has expressed concern, urging U.S. authorities to ensure the rights of its citizens are not infringed upon. The investigation is ongoing, and as of Friday, no criminal charges had been announced against any specific companies.