Raid at Georgia Battery Site: What Happened and Why It Matters

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, federal authorities executed a large immigration enforcement operation at a battery factory under construction in Bryan County, Georgia, an industrial site near Savannah that is part of a major Hyundai and LG Energy Solution project. Homeland Security Investigations said 475 people were detained during the sweep, which the agency described as the largest single-site enforcement operation in its history. "This was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations," said Steven Schrank, the agency's special agent in charge.

Officials said the action followed a months-long probe into alleged unlawful hiring, and investigators have emphasized that those detained worked for multiple contractors and subcontractors rather than directly for the automaker. Many detainees were transported to an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, where removal proceedings or case reviews will proceed. HSI noted that some individuals entered legally but had expired work authorization, while others were said to lack valid documents.

Hyundai issued a statement saying it believed none of its direct employees had been detained, and LG Energy Solution confirmed that 47 of those detained were its employees or subcontractors. South Korea's Foreign Ministry described the number of nationals taken into custody as large and dispatched diplomats to the scene to assist consular needs. Construction at the battery site was paused while authorities worked on the investigation.

The operation has prompted scrutiny from business and diplomatic leaders, who are weighing how enforcement actions intersect with foreign investment projects. The federal inquiry is ongoing, and companies involved have said they will review compliance and contracting practices.