News Summary
U.S. immigration authorities executed a significant raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site in Georgia, focusing on alleged unlawful employment practices. The operation disrupted ongoing construction of an adjacent battery plant, which is part of a joint venture with LG Energy Solution. Although ICE agents halted construction activities and searched workers, Hyundai confirmed that its main manufacturing operations remained unaffected. This raid is part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy and has raised concerns regarding labor practices in major industries.
Savannah, Georgia — U.S. immigration authorities have conducted a significant immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site located in southeast Georgia. The operation occurred on Thursday and primarily targeted one of the largest manufacturing plants in the state, which represents a $7.6 billion investment and has been described as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history.
The Hyundai facility, which began producing electric vehicles (EVs) approximately one year ago, employs around 1,200 workers. Following the raid, construction of an adjacent factory intended to produce EV batteries—a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution—was halted. The manufacturing site spans roughly 3,000 acres and is situated west of Savannah in Bryan County.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the raid as part of an extensive criminal investigation that focuses on alleged unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes. The ICE operation specifically targeted the construction area for the battery plant. Access roads to the Hyundai site were blocked off by the Georgia State Patrol to assist federal authorities during the operation.
Reports indicated that ICE agents were observed instructing workers, who were wearing yellow safety vests, that they had a search warrant for the entire site. Agents proceeded to tell workers to cease construction activities immediately. Video footage showed agents conducting searches of the workers’ bags and inquiring about their citizenship status.
During the operation, large buses and undercover law enforcement vehicles were spotted at the site. The joint venture known as HL-GA Battery has since announced that it has halted construction and is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities. However, Hyundai stated that operations at its main EV manufacturing facility were not disrupted, and normal office hours continued prior to the raid.
The investigation is ongoing, with ICE emphasizing its focus on holding entities accountable for potential labor law violations. Details about the specific number of individuals detained or arrested during the raid have not been disclosed.
This operation comes in the context of a broader immigration enforcement strategy that was widely promoted during the Trump administration. The raid is noted as one of the largest immigration operations conducted in recent years, reflecting an aggressive approach to immigration enforcement across various sectors, including manufacturing.
Further background shows that two courts have ruled President Trump’s import taxes as illegal, while the Pew Research Center has reported a loss of over 1.2 million immigrants from the U.S. labor force in the first half of this year. The KH-GA Battery plant, associated with Hyundai’s joint venture, is set to open next year.
The situation at the Hyundai manufacturing site reflects wider concerns regarding employment practices and the enforcement of immigration laws within major industries in the U.S. As the investigation by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continues, further developments regarding the results of the raid and its implications for the local workforce and manufacturing landscape in Georgia are anticipated.
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