US Arrests 475 in Historic Raid at Hyundai-LG Battery Plant in Georgia

US federal agents have arrested 475 people, mostly South Korean nationals, in a major raid at a Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia, officials confirmed Friday.

The large-scale operation comes amid President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on migrants, which he has described as part of the “largest deportation drive in US history.”

According to Steven Schrank, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent in Atlanta, the arrests were linked to “a criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes.”

“This, in fact, was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations,” Schrank said during a press briefing.

He added that those taken into custody were “illegally present in the United States” and “working unlawfully,” noting that “the majority” were South Korean nationals. A Seoul source told AFP that around 300 South Koreans were among those detained.

The detainees have since been transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible deportation.

South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed “concern and regret” over the raid, urging Washington to respect the rights of its citizens.

“The economic activities of our investors and the legitimate rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the course of US law enforcement,” ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.

It remains unclear how many of those arrested were directly employed by Hyundai, LG, or subcontractors.

Hyundai, in a statement, stressed that “none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,” while LG Energy Solution said it was still “gathering all relevant details” and pledged full cooperation with US authorities.

South Korean firms, including Hyundai and LG, have invested billions in American plants to strengthen their foothold in the US market and avoid tariff risks. In July, Seoul committed $350 billion in US investment following a meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and Trump.

Schrank emphasized the government’s stance: “We are sending a clear and unequivocal message that those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy and violate federal laws will be held accountable.”