The detention of hundreds of foreign workers at a Georgia construction site has ignited a storm that spans labour rights, corporate accountability, and international diplomacy. What began as a workplace investigation, over the weekend quickly escalated into a flashpoint between Washington and Seoul, raising questions about how global companies manage sprawling contractor networks in the United States.

On September 4, 2025, US immigration officers carried out what officials have called the largest workplace immigration enforcement action in the history of the Department of Homeland Security. The operation unfolded at a Hyundai and LG Energy Solution electric vehicle battery facility under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. Approximately 475 people were detained, most of them South Korean nationals, according to The Washington Post.

At dawn that day, heavily armed officers from multiple agencies descended on the 2,900-acre construction site. Roads were blocked and security perimeters set. Workers were ordered to line up against walls while agents checked their identities. Those found with legal permission were released with slips confirming clearance to exit; others were transported to the Folkston ICE Processing Centre, more than 100 miles away.

According to CNN, several individuals tried to escape, some fleeing into a sewage pond, forcing officers to use boats to retrieve them. A handful attempted to hide in air ducts. Video later published by ICE showed detainees shackled and led to buses, sparking outrage in Seoul.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and intimidating, comparing it to a military zone. 

Who was detained?

Officials confirmed that those taken into custody fell into three main categories: some had entered the United States without authorisation, others had overstayed visas, and many had entered under visa waiver programmes such as ESTA, which explicitly forbids employment, according to AP News and Barron’s.

Based on CBS reports, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun later said over 300 nationals from his country were among the detainees. Mexico’s consulate in Atlanta reported that 23 Mexican citizens were also being held.

Although the raid targeted the Hyundai site, neither Hyundai nor LG Energy Solution directly employed those detained. Instead, they were hired by contractors and subcontractors involved in the plant’s construction. The Washington Post notes that a filing by the US Attorney’s Office acknowledged it remained unclear which specific companies were responsible for hiring undocumented workers.

Hyundai Motor Group stressed that none of its own employees were among those detained. A spokesperson told CNN the firm would review vetting processes and ensure contractors and subcontractors complied fully with US employment law. “We demand the highest standards of legal compliance,” the company said, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on unlawful practices.

The Georgia plant represents Hyundai and LG’s first fully dedicated EV and battery facility in America, a $4.3bn joint venture intended to employ up to 8,500 people. Construction has since been halted, according to the Associated Press.

South Korea’s response

The Korean government moved quickly to secure its citizens’ release. The Korea Times reports that Seoul negotiated with Washington to repatriate more than 300 detainees. A charter flight was arranged, and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun indicated he was prepared to travel to Washington personally if necessary.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said at a policy meeting that only final administrative steps were left before citizens could be repatriated, adding that the government would stay on high alert until their return.

South Korea also voiced concern over the treatment of its nationals. Officials stressed that investment projects and citizens’ rights should not be undermined by US enforcement actions. Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had urged Washington to exercise “extreme caution” when dealing with Korean workers.

Local and diaspora reaction

The raid sent shockwaves through Korean communities in the United States. The Korea JoongAng Daily reports that residents called the event “shocking” and “inhumane,” with helicopters, military vehicles and shackled workers creating imagery more akin to a war film.

On MissyUSA, a popular Korean online forum, commenters accused the US of betraying Korean investors. Others suggested Korean companies had exposed themselves by relying heavily on short-term visas not designed for employment.

One Atlanta-based immigration lawyer told JoongAng Daily that businesses should have anticipated such risks under the Trump administration’s uncompromising immigration stance. Another noted that many detained engineers and skilled staff had come on ESTA or B1/B2 visas, which were never intended for work.

Legal implications

Although being undocumented is generally a civil rather than criminal violation, prior convictions can complicate immigration status. ICE confirmed that one lawful permanent resident with past firearm and drug offences was detained. Spokesman Lindsay Williams told the Associated Press that no US citizens were held, adding, “Once citizenship is verified, we have no authority.”

Families have struggled to make contact with loved ones. James Woo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta said many relatives were still in South Korea, unable to reach detainees.

Immigration attorney Charles Kuck told CNN two of his clients, engineers visiting briefly under the visa waiver scheme, were mistakenly detained. Both had been authorised to travel for business consultations and were due to return to Korea within weeks.

According to CNN, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the raid followed months of investigation into suspected unlawful employment practices. Agencies including the FBI, DEA, IRS, US Customs and Border Protection, and Georgia State Patrol joined forces. Officials said the warrants sought employment records, recruitment documents, and immigration paperwork.

“This has been a multi-month criminal investigation,” Homeland Security Investigations chief Schrank explained, denying that it was a simple round-up. Homeland Security declared the action a warning to companies and individuals exploiting the US workforce.

Political fallout

Meanwhile, in Seoul, ruling Democratic Party lawmakers urged Washington to treat Korea’s investment commitments with respect. One described the incident as a humiliation occurring barely ten days after a Korea and US summit. Opposition politicians blamed President Lee Jae Myung’s administration for not responding more forcefully.

Diplomats on both sides now face the delicate task of resolving the crisis while safeguarding a multibillion-dollar industrial project considered vital to both countries’ economic partnership.

The raid has become more than an immigration story. It now stands as a test of how the United States enforces its labour laws while courting foreign investment, and how South Korea balances defending its citizens with protecting strategic economic ties.