SAVANNAH, GA - On Thursday, September 4, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other federal agencies were involved in a raid at a Hyundai facility that was done in connection to an investigation into "unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes."
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI in Georgia said on Thursday afternoon that the alleged unlawful practices were taking place at the "multi-hundred acre" construction site where South Korean companies Hyundai and LG Energy Solution are jointly building a new battery plant next to their manufacturing facility for electric vehicles, NBC News reported.
The facility, located in the town of Ellabell, employs about 1,400 people and is considered one of Georgia's largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites.
NBC News verified a video posted on social media showing HSI agents inside the construction site at Hyundai's facility.
One of the agents can be heard telling workers they had a search warrant for the entire site and asked that construction be "ceased immediately." A worker who was on site, but wants to remain anonymous, said that agents came late Thursday morning and asked everyone on the premises whether they were U.S. citizens.
Other videos circulating on social media show agents lining workers up and in some instances, agents can be seen asking worker questions and searching their bags. In a statement to NBC News, Hyundai spokesperson Michael Stewart confirmed the presence of law enforcement at the LG Energy Solution and Hyundai battery joint construction site.
"We are cooperating with law enforcement and are committed to abiding by all labor and immigration regulations," Stewart said. It remains unclear how many people have been taken into custody, but Schrank said, "We are making many arrests of undocumented individuals."
He said that the investigation was expected to continue beyond Thursday, but did not provide an exact timeline. "This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law," the ICE spokesperson said. "Complex cases like this require strong collaboration and extensive investigative efforts."
NBC affiliate WSAV of Savannah reported that hundreds of undercover law enforcement vehicles and Humvees were reportedly at the scene as well as large buses.
Mary Beth Kennedy, a spokesperson for HL-GA Battery Co, LG Energy Solution and Hyundai's joint venture, said that the company is "cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding activity at our construction site. To assist their work, we have paused construction. We do not have further details at this time."
South Korea, the world's 10th-largest economy, is a major automotive and electronics manufacturer whose companies have multiple plants in the United States.
In July, Seoul pledged $350 billion in U.S. investment in an effort to lower President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on its products, which he ended up setting at 15%.
In March, Hyundai said it would invest $21 billion in U.S. onshoring from 2025 to 2028, a number it said last month had increased to $26 billion.
It said that the initiatives involved in the investment, including a new $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana, expanded U.S. auto production capacity, and a state-of-the-art robotics facility were expected to create about 25,000 new direct jobs in the United States over the next four years.
On Friday, one day after the raids, South Korea said it had expressed "concern and regret" to the U.S. Embassy over the immigration raid during which it said "many" South Korean nationals were detained.
"The economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated," said Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI in Georgia said on Thursday afternoon that the alleged unlawful practices were taking place at the "multi-hundred acre" construction site where South Korean companies Hyundai and LG Energy Solution are jointly building a new battery plant next to their manufacturing facility for electric vehicles, NBC News reported.
The facility, located in the town of Ellabell, employs about 1,400 people and is considered one of Georgia's largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites.
NBC News verified a video posted on social media showing HSI agents inside the construction site at Hyundai's facility.
One of the agents can be heard telling workers they had a search warrant for the entire site and asked that construction be "ceased immediately." A worker who was on site, but wants to remain anonymous, said that agents came late Thursday morning and asked everyone on the premises whether they were U.S. citizens.
Other videos circulating on social media show agents lining workers up and in some instances, agents can be seen asking worker questions and searching their bags. In a statement to NBC News, Hyundai spokesperson Michael Stewart confirmed the presence of law enforcement at the LG Energy Solution and Hyundai battery joint construction site.
"We are cooperating with law enforcement and are committed to abiding by all labor and immigration regulations," Stewart said. It remains unclear how many people have been taken into custody, but Schrank said, "We are making many arrests of undocumented individuals."
He said that the investigation was expected to continue beyond Thursday, but did not provide an exact timeline. "This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law," the ICE spokesperson said. "Complex cases like this require strong collaboration and extensive investigative efforts."
NBC affiliate WSAV of Savannah reported that hundreds of undercover law enforcement vehicles and Humvees were reportedly at the scene as well as large buses.
Mary Beth Kennedy, a spokesperson for HL-GA Battery Co, LG Energy Solution and Hyundai's joint venture, said that the company is "cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding activity at our construction site. To assist their work, we have paused construction. We do not have further details at this time."
South Korea, the world's 10th-largest economy, is a major automotive and electronics manufacturer whose companies have multiple plants in the United States.
In July, Seoul pledged $350 billion in U.S. investment in an effort to lower President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on its products, which he ended up setting at 15%.
In March, Hyundai said it would invest $21 billion in U.S. onshoring from 2025 to 2028, a number it said last month had increased to $26 billion.
It said that the initiatives involved in the investment, including a new $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana, expanded U.S. auto production capacity, and a state-of-the-art robotics facility were expected to create about 25,000 new direct jobs in the United States over the next four years.
On Friday, one day after the raids, South Korea said it had expressed "concern and regret" to the U.S. Embassy over the immigration raid during which it said "many" South Korean nationals were detained.
"The economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated," said Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2025-09-06T21:48-0400 | Comment by: James
Yes! There are Korean battery plants in Commerce GA. and Cartersville GA. that need to be checked for the same reasons!!!
2025-09-08T14:46-0400 | Comment by: James
Great! There are at least two other plants like this! One is in Commerce GA. and one in Cartersville GA. Ask Gov. Kemp he knows where they are!!!