Hundreds of federal officers raided the Hyundai Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia, on Thursday, arresting 475 people. Officials say this was the largest workplace immigration sweep so far under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Most of those detained were Korean nationals, said Steven Schrank, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge. He explained that some entered the U.S. illegally, some overstayed visas, and others were in the country under visa waivers that didn’t allow them to work.
During the raid, several workers tried to escape, with some running into a sewage pond. “Agents used a boat to fish them out,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia said. One person even tried to flip the boat, but failed.
Schrank noted that many of the workers may have been contractors or subcontractors.
A Hyundai spokesperson told CNN he does not believe anyone arrested was a direct Hyundai employee. The company said it would investigate its suppliers and subcontractors to ensure they follow the law. “Hyundai has zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the law,” the company said.
The 2,900-acre Hyundai Metaplant includes both an electric vehicle factory and an EV battery facility, the latter a joint venture with LG. The raid stopped construction on the battery plant, according to the Associated Press. LG has not said how many of the workers arrested were connected to the company.
How the Raid Happened
Schrank explained that the raid came after months of investigation, not just a surprise roundup. Agencies including ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Georgia State Patrol executed a search warrant.
The Department of Homeland Security said the operation sent “a clear and unequivocal message: those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy, and violate federal laws will be held accountable.”
Court documents show investigators were looking for records about concealing or employing undocumented workers, including employment files, IDs, and immigration paperwork. No charges have been filed yet.
Workers Describe Chaos
One construction worker compared the raid to a “war zone.” He said agents lined workers against a wall, checked their information, and gave legal workers papers allowing them to leave.
Another worker told Univision he hid in an air duct when agents arrived, saying, “We hid ourselves in an air duct and it was really hot.”
Georgia’s Governor Responds
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has promoted the Hyundai Metaplant as a big win for Georgia’s economy, with thousands of jobs expected. After the raid, Kemp’s office said, “In Georgia, we will always enforce the law, including all state and federal immigration laws.”
South Korea Raises Concerns
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said many of its citizens were detained. Spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said Seoul expressed regret through the U.S. Embassy and urged that their citizens’ rights be protected.
Georgia immigration attorney Charles Kuck told CNN two of his South Korean clients were detained despite entering legally under a visa waiver program. Both were engineers visiting briefly for work assignments.
James Rim, president of the Korean American Association of Southeast Georgia, said most of the Korean workers were skilled laborers and stressed they should be “legally handled right” and treated with respect.
Raids in New York the Same Day
On the same day, ICE agents raided a family-owned nutrition bar plant in Cato, New York. Workers said nearly the entire staff was questioned, and most were arrested. Witnesses described workers crying and being pushed around.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the raids, saying they “will not make New York safer” and would tear families apart.
Mark Schmidt, the plant owner, told the New York Times that all his employees had legal documents and called the raid “overkill.” His son said it looked “almost theatrical,” with police dogs and ATVs.
Former acting ICE director John Sandweg told CNN that agents seem to be targeting ordinary economic migrants instead of criminals.
