Federal immigration authorities conducted an extensive raid Thursday, Sept. 4, at Hyundai’s electric vehicle production plant in Ellabell, Georgia, and at an attached battery construction site of the joint venture with LG Energy Solution.
The action, part of an investigation into alleged illegal labor practices, directly impacts a workforce of more than 1,400 employees in the region.
ICE raid on Hyundai of Georgia
The operation, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Investigations (HSI), began in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Agents from the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals and the Georgia State Patrol were involved, closing the road access to the Hyundai plant and the battery construction project in Bryan County.
Images shared on social networks, such as Carlos Espina‘s Facebook page, showed workers in security vests lined up under surveillance by armed agents as they were questioned and checked on site.
“The raid was judicially authorized and is in response to an active investigation into labor violations at a construction site covering hundreds of acres,” explained Steven Schrank, HSI’s agent in charge in Georgia, during a press conference quoted by local television station WTOC.
Hyundai’s position
In a statement sent to the media, Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart acknowledged that they were aware of the ongoing police action and stressed that the company is cooperating with the authorities.
“We are committed to full compliance with all labor and immigration regulations,” Stewart said.
The Ellabell plant is part of Hyundai’s strategy to become a leader in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
It is a multi-million dollar investment that has been touted as an economic engine for southeast Georgia, promising to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
What is not yet known
As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not confirmed how many workers were detained or how many face possible deportation proceedings.
What is known is that the operation generated an atmosphere of tension and concern among the labor community in the area, where a significant part of the employees are immigrant workers.
Labor and immigrant rights advocates in Georgia have warned that these types of raids, even if they are linked to investigations of illegal practices, often have immediate consequences for entire families who depend on these jobs for their livelihoods.
Context: immigration and the automotive sector
In recent years, the U.S. automotive industry has faced increasing questions about labor conditions in its supply chains.
In 2023 and 2024, several reports pointed to the irregular subcontracting of immigrant workers in plants in the south of the country, which has set off alarms among federal authorities.
This case resonates even more because it involves a world-class manufacturer like Hyundai and its partner LG, which have received state and federal incentives to establish operations in Georgia as part of the energy transition to electric vehicles.
For the Latino community in and around the Savannah area, the raid revives fears of losing jobs and facing immigration proceedings, even among those with work permits.
Local organizations have already begun to offer free legal advice and disseminate information about rights in case of ICE detention.
The raid on Hyundai’s Georgia plant reflects the tension between the need to boost the electric vehicle industry and the Trump Administration’s strict immigration policies in 2025.
As the investigation continues, thousands of working families remain uncertain about what will happen to their jobs and immigration status.
El operativo fue autorizado judicialmente y responde a una investigación activa sobre violaciones laborales en una obra de construcción de cientos de acres
Steven Schrank, agente a cargo de HSI Georgia
