ICE Raids Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, Detains 475 Amid Visa Violations

In a sweeping operation that’s sending shockwaves through the global business community, federal agents detained nearly 500 workers at a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site near Savannah, Georgia. The ICE raid the largest single-site enforcement action in DHS history has ignited diplomatic tensions with South Korea and re-ignited the debate over foreign labor, illegal immigration, and America’s economic sovereignty.

About 475 individuals were taken into custody on suspicion of being in the U.S. illegally, with at least 300 reportedly South Korean nationals, many of whom were allegedly involved in technical or construction-related roles at the plant. The Bryan County facility, part of a $26 billion investment deal between Hyundai and the U.S., was touted by Joe Biden in 2022 as a major step forward for American jobs. But now, it’s under fire for allegedly operating with a foreign labor force that violates federal immigration laws.

“This sends a clear and unequivocal message,” said Steven Schrank of Homeland Security Investigations. “Those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable.”

That accountability now has international consequences. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is en route to Washington to negotiate the repatriation of detained workers, while Seoul continues to demand clarity on how such a large-scale breach happened under the radar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Cho in the coming days.

But amid all the noise, President Donald Trump offered clarity: foreign investment is welcome as long as it follows U.S. law.

“Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “But what we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”

Trump is also calling for a streamlined legal immigration system for technical specialists but insists it must serve the American workforce, not displace it.

This contrasts sharply with the Biden-era approach, which saw the Hyundai plant celebrated as a job creator, only for it to become the center of an ICE operation. Biden boasted in 2022 that the Georgia facility would “create more than 8,000 new American jobs.” Instead, it appears that hundreds of those roles were quietly filled by visa-overstayers or improperly employed foreign workers.

Even critics of Trump’s America-first stance are now grappling with a tough truth: high-tech industries are quietly relying on foreign labor without adequate oversight, often leaving U.S. workers out of the loop and undermining national labor laws.

Key takeaways:

• Over 475 illegal workers detained at Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia.

• At least 300 are South Korean nationals, many in technical roles.

• ICE calls the raid the largest in DHS history.

• South Korea demands repatriation, while expressing concern over U.S. visa processing failures.

• Trump affirms support for legal immigration but not at the expense of American workers.

Hyundai claims none of the detained workers were directly employed by the company a line that’s being met with growing skepticism given the scale of the violations.

This raid isn’t just about immigration it’s about national security, workforce integrity, and economic independence. As Trump prepares for another term in office, these kinds of decisive actions are exactly why voters continue to rally behind his message: protect the American worker, enforce the law, and put the interests of this country first.

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