A major immigration enforcement action at a Hyundai–LG electric-vehicle battery plant in Georgia that detained nearly 500 workers prompted President Donald Trump to call on foreign companies investing in the United States to “hire and train American Workers.” The raid, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was described by the Department of Homeland Security as the largest single-site enforcement action in the agency’s history.
Homeland Security officials said the Sept. 4 operation resulted in the detention of more than 300 South Korean nationals — including engineers and instructors — and nearly 200 Latino workers. Images of handcuffed workers being escorted onto buses were widely circulated in South Korea and helped trigger political uproar there, as well as immediate business reactions from multiple Korean firms.
President Trump posted on Truth Social early Monday, saying in part: “Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws.” He added that the United States welcomes investment and will “make it quickly and legally possible” for companies to bring skilled workers, but urged that they hire and train American workers.
Trump later told reporters he believed the detained workers were “illegal aliens” and that ICE “was just doing its job.” The White House reiterated its position that the United States remains open to major foreign investment while enforcing immigration laws. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Post that foreign workers must enter the country legally and with proper work authorizations, and said the administration “will continue delivering on his promise to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.”
U.S. authorities said the investigation that led to the raid had unfolded over several months. Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of investigations for Georgia, said during a press briefing that the operation was the culmination of a longer inquiry.
South Korean officials moved quickly to resolve the diplomatic fallout. Seoul confirmed that the more than 300 detained nationals would be released and flown home on chartered flights after reaching an agreement with the U.S. government. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said only administrative procedures remained before the workers could return. South Korea’s trade minister said the government was “well aware of the concerns” raised by the raid and would work with the foreign ministry to improve systems that govern such labor arrangements.
The enforcement action has had immediate effects on corporate plans and travel policies. LG Energy reportedly postponed the launch of EV battery production at the Georgia facility, moving an originally planned start into the first half of 2026, according to the Korea Economic Daily. Hyundai has barred staff from traveling to the United States, and Samsung Electronics tightened restrictions on business trips under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program’s ESTA, limiting stays to two weeks, Bloomberg reported. LG Energy told Bloomberg that production had already been pushed to next year because of market conditions and said it was too early to say whether the raid would further affect operations. Hyundai and Kia said it was premature to assess business impacts.
Analysts warned the raid could disrupt plans by major automakers that have tied U.S. manufacturing expansions to supply-chain resilience. The Georgia battery plant is central to U.S. efforts to onshore EV battery production, a key element of industrial policy that has attracted multibillion-dollar commitments from South Korean conglomerates. Companies including Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Kia, and SK Group have announced large investments in U.S. manufacturing and pledged significant direct spending, but those commitments could face delays or higher costs if companies rely on subcontractors and temporary foreign labor while waiting months for visas.
Yuanta Securities analyst Anna Lee said mass production in 2026 now appears unlikely and that diplomatic solutions to return specialized workers would be needed in the absence of other visa options. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also leads the Korea Chamber of Commerce, urged the South Korean government to negotiate expanded U.S. visa quotas to help prevent similar incidents.
Investor reaction in Seoul was muted, with LG Energy shares up slightly and Hyundai shares down modestly on the day markets first reacted. Some executives and analysts said the battery start-up delay had already been anticipated and that the larger economic effects would depend on how long travel and staffing restrictions remain in place.
The enforcement action places fresh strain on a bilateral economic agenda that only weeks earlier featured high-level cooperation. South Korea’s President Lee and President Trump had recently touted a trade and investment framework that included a U.S. fund to support Korean investment and a pledge of direct spending by Korean firms. The raid and the subsequent diplomatic interventions highlight the tension between enforcing immigration laws and maintaining business confidence for foreign investors in U.S. manufacturing projects.
South Korea’s foreign minister departed for Washington to press for the release of the detainees, and Seoul officials said arrangements were being made for voluntary departure flights. U.S. and South Korean officials did not immediately provide a public timeline for the flights or for the completion of repatriation procedures. News organizations and company spokespeople sought comment from relevant U.S. and Korean government agencies and from the firms involved.
Homeland Security officials said the department will continue to coordinate with other agencies as needed on enforcement matters tied to workplace immigration compliance. Company officials and South Korean government representatives signaled they would pursue diplomatic and administrative remedies while assessing the impact on production schedules and labor plans for U.S.-based facilities.