Dateline: Sept. 8, 2025 (Asia/Seoul)
Lede: U.S. federal agents detained about 475 workers—more than 300 South Korean nationals—during a worksite immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric-vehicle battery project in Ellabell, Bryan County, Georgia, the largest single-site enforcement operation in the Department of Homeland Security’s history, officials and major outlets said. [Sources: Reuters, Washington Post]
What happened
- Date & location: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at Hyundai’s U.S. EV battery complex near Savannah (Ellabell, Bryan County).
- Scale: Authorities detained 475 people in a single-site raid described by HSI as its largest of this kind.
- Nationality: 300+ detainees were South Korean nationals, according to South Korea’s government and U.S. reporting.
- Project status: Hyundai and LG Energy Solution paused work at the site following the raid.
- Operation name: Reports identify the raid as “Operation Low Voltage.”
Why it happened (facts reported)
- Alleged violations: DHS cited unlawful employment and lack of proper immigration authorization; many detainees worked via contractors/subcontractors.
- Policy backdrop: The raid is part of a broader intensification of worksite enforcement under the current administration.
Current status
- Repatriation talks: The South Korean government said it had arranged to fly home 300+ nationals detained in the raid; a charter flight is being prepared subject to administrative steps.
- Diplomatic posture: Senior South Korean officials expressed concern and pledged support; U.S. coverage highlighted strain on U.S.–ROK relations amid major Korean investments.
- U.S. stance: Officials signaled more employer-focused raids ahead; the President urged compliance with immigration laws and training of American workers.
Key facts at a glance
- Detainees: ~475 total; 300+ South Koreans.
- Site: Hyundai–LG EV battery project, Ellabell (Bryan County), Georgia.
- Enforcement note: HSI’s largest single-site worksite action.
- Project impact: Work paused at the site post-raid.
- Next steps (official): Ongoing processing; repatriation planned for many South Korean nationals; further raids expected per DHS posture.
[Inference] Response options
[Inference] For companies and prime contractors
- Tiered subcontractor audits (eligibility, E-Verify/I-9, visa-duty match; stop-work where gaps exist).
- Centralize vendor labor data (employer of record, authorization type/expiry, scope of work).
- Pre-mobilization checks for international assignees; avoid ESTA for productive work.
- Incident protocols: worker liaison, legal coordination, family communications, multilingual hotlines.
- Re-sequence construction packages to limit critical-path slippage; document mitigation for insurers/lenders.
[Inference] For subcontractors and staffing vendors
- Designate a compliance officer authorized to remove non-compliant workers from site.
- Maintain real-time rosters (name, role, employer of record, authorization, expiry).
- Use back-to-back compliance clauses for lower-tier subs; audit quarterly.
[Inference] For individual workers
- Carry copies of identification and work authorization; know employer of record and assigned scope.
- In enforcement encounters, request legal counsel and follow employer procedures.
Sources
Reuters; Associated Press; The Washington Post; CBS News; The Independent.