U.S. immigration authorities have arrested 475 individuals during a large-scale raid on a Hyundai manufacturing site in Ellabell, Georgia, marking what officials say is the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The raid, conducted by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and led by Special Agent Steve Schrank, was carried out under a federal judge-issued search warrant following a months-long criminal investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices and potential violations of federal labor laws.
“This investigation remains ongoing, and while no charges have yet been filed, the scope and scale of this operation are unprecedented,” Schrank said during a Friday press conference in Atlanta. He confirmed that those arrested included workers employed both directly by Hyundai contractors and individuals allegedly linked to the parent company.
In a statement following the raid, Hyundai Motor Company acknowledged the operation and said it was “closely monitoring the situation” while working to clarify the facts.
“As of today, it is our understanding that none of the individuals detained were directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company,” the statement read.
The Ellabell facility, located about 30 miles west of Savannah, is a key part of Hyundai’s electric vehicle and battery production expansion in the United States and is part of a larger joint venture with LG Energy Solution.
The raid has sparked concern in South Korea, prompting an official response from its foreign ministry, which said it had conveyed its “concerns and regret” to U.S. officials regarding the enforcement action at the Hyundai-LG plant.
“The economic activities of our companies investing in the U.S. and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated,” a ministry spokesperson said, calling for “special attention” to ensure fair treatment of South Korean nationals and firms.
In response, consular officials were dispatched to the facility, and local diplomatic missions were ordered to establish a task force to support affected individuals and monitor developments.
While details of the alleged employment violations remain under seal, Schrank emphasized that the probe is ongoing and further legal action is possible. The operation highlights growing federal scrutiny of labor practices at foreign-owned facilities operating in the U.S., especially amid rising immigration enforcement efforts and increased political attention on industrial job sites.
Neither Hyundai nor the DHS provided a timeline for the next steps in the investigation, but officials say additional updates may be released in the coming weeks.
