President Donald Trump on Sunday warned foreign companies investing in the United States to hire and train American workers after immigration agents detained 475 people at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia in what Homeland Security called the largest single-site enforcement operation in its history.
Federal officials said the Thursday raid at the Hyundai Motor Group battery plant detained 475 immigrants suspected of working in the United States illegally, roughly half of the plant’s about 1,200-person workforce. Authorities said the operation stemmed from a months-long investigation into the facility and included workers who had entered the country illegally and others who had overstayed visas or work authorizations.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, described the sweep as the largest enforcement action at a single site in HSI history and said the operation was intended to protect jobs for Georgians and Americans, ensure a level playing field for law-abiding businesses and safeguard workers from exploitation. Authorities said detainees were transported to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Folkston, Georgia, near the Florida state line and would be moved subsequently according to individual circumstances.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said foreign investments in the United States were welcome but urged companies to "respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws." He wrote that the administration would "make it quickly and legally possible" for foreign firms to bring talent to the United States but asked that those firms "hire and train American Workers. Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before."
South Korean officials said as many as 300 of those detained would be released and assisted in returning to South Korea. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, said Seoul and Washington had finalized negotiations on the workers’ release and that South Korea planned to send a charter plane once remaining administrative steps were completed. The South Korean foreign ministry urged the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to exercise "extreme caution to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of Korean citizens are not infringed upon," saying the economic activities of Korean firms and the rights of Korean citizens should not be unfairly affected during U.S. law enforcement operations.
The Hyundai battery plant, a project officials said cost at least $7.6 billion, had been hailed by Georgia leaders as one of the state’s most significant economic development investments. The facility began manufacturing electric vehicles a year ago; state and company officials said construction was halted following the raid.
Labor and immigrant advocates condemned the operation. Yvonne Brooks, president of the Georgia chapter of the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations, called the raid "politically motivated" and said it contributed to an atmosphere of fear that "terrorizes workers and their families" while increasing burdens on coworkers.
The operation is the latest high-profile workplace enforcement action under an administration that has publicly escalated immigration enforcement and deportation priorities. Officials this week also announced moves to end certain temporary protections that would clear the way for the detention and possible removal of tens of thousands of Venezuelan nationals who had been in the United States under temporary status.
Homeland Security officials said the investigation into the Hyundai facility had been ongoing for months and that the agency’s actions sought to enforce existing immigration law while protecting the integrity of the labor market. South Korean and U.S. officials said they were coordinating on the processing and disposition of the detained workers, with Seoul seeking the prompt return and assistance for its citizens.
The raid has raised questions among business and diplomatic officials about the impact of enforcement actions on foreign investment and allied relations. Company and state officials have not publicly detailed the internal steps they will take to address the labor disruptions, and federal authorities said detainees’ futures will be determined through standard immigration procedures and individual case assessments.