HyundaiU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today raided the site of a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Georgia, detaining 475 workers. Automotive News reported that most of those arrested are South Korean nationals, and the situation was the subject of a months-long probe that culminated in the largest single-site enforcement action in the Department of Homeland Security’s history.The workers’ specific circumstances vary, but those detained are said to lack permission to work in the U.S., while some may have entered the country illegally as well. Along with ICE, the investigation and action involved members of the FBI, DEA, IRS, U.S. Marshals Service, and Georgia State Patrol. This action is part of the government’s ramp-up of deportations and workplace raids happening across the country.HyundaiA Hyundai Motor North America spokesperson acknowledged the news and clarified that those detained are not direct employees of the automaker. The statement reads, “We are aware of the recent incident at the HL-GA Battery Company construction site in Bryan County, Georgia. We are closely monitoring the situation and working to understand the specific circumstances. As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company. We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate.”In response to the Trump administration’s tariff battle, Hyundai recently announced billions more in U.S. manufacturing investments, above and beyond those already underway. The Georgia battery facility, which is a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, was announced in 2023. It’s part of a manufacturing campus called Metaplant America, where Hyundai currently builds the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 crossover EVs and has plans to assemble as many as 500,000 electrified vehicles annually.
Source: caranddriver.com
