Washington: The White House on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to strictly enforcing U.S. immigration and labor laws following a sweeping raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site in Georgia that led to the detention of hundreds of foreign workers. Officials said the move highlights the administration’s determination to prevent unauthorized employment even as the United States seeks to attract large-scale foreign investments.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that approximately 475 individuals, mostly South Korean nationals, were taken into custody in what has been described as the largest single-site immigration enforcement action in American history. Investigators revealed that many of those detained were working on expired visas or entering the United States on visa waivers that do not permit employment. Federal authorities executed the raid under a court-issued search warrant after months of surveillance and information gathering.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson emphasized that the United States welcomes international projects but insisted that foreign workers must comply fully with U.S. laws. “Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations,” she said, underscoring President Trump’s hardline approach that couples’ investment incentives with rigid immigration enforcement.
The raid, codenamed “Operation Low Voltage,” temporarily halted construction at Hyundai’s Ellabell site, a flagship $12.6 billion project in partnership with LG Energy Solution. Hyundai clarified that none of the detained workers were directly employed by the automaker, instead identifying them as subcontractor employees. To contain the fallout, Hyundai announced an internal review of its supplier network, with its North American manufacturing chief, Chris Susock, taking over oversight of the project.
The incident has triggered unease in Seoul, where South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the treatment of its citizens and called for fairness in the enforcement process. South Korean officials also warned that the development could strain trade and investment ties, as the country remains one of the largest foreign investors in the United States’ electric vehicle sector.
Political reactions in the United States were sharply divided. Republican leaders hailed the raid as a necessary step to protect American jobs and uphold the integrity of immigration law. Democrats, however, criticized the timing and scope of the action, accusing the administration of weaponizing enforcement for political gain and sowing fear among immigrant communities.
The Georgia plant, once seen as a landmark symbol of U.S.–South Korea cooperation in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, now finds itself at the center of a diplomatic and political storm. Beyond immediate disruptions, the raid raises pressing questions about how the U.S. can balance its need for foreign capital and skilled labor with a domestic agenda that prioritizes strict immigration compliance.
With the United Nations General Assembly opening later this month and trade negotiations underway between Washington and Seoul, the Hyundai raid has emerged as more than an isolated enforcement action. It is likely to influence broader policy discussions, shaping the contours of U.S.–South Korea relations and redefining the expectations of foreign companies seeking to expand their footprint in the American market.