Work at Hyundai’s Georgia complex that manufactures electric vehicles has been suspended after federal authorities detained hundreds of workers in a major immigration enforcement operation on Thursday, officials said.
On Sept. 4, federal authorities entered a worksite in Bryan County, Georgia, where South Korean manufacturing companies Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution are building a $4.3 billion battery cell manufacturing plant.
Authorities from the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department said that about 450 workers were detained. A number of South Korean nationals were detained.
A spokesperson at Hyundai’s battery joint venture partner, South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solutions, said construction had been paused and that it was cooperating with law enforcement.
In a Sept. 5 statement, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that “many” South Korean nationals were detained during the operation.
“The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of U.S. law enforcement,” ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.
In a press briefing conducted near the site on Sept. 4, Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, said the operation was “judicially authorized” as the agency is looking into unlawful employment practices at the construction site.
In a follow-up briefing on Sept. 5, Schrank said that 475 people were arrested, of whom a majority were South Korean nationals. So far, he said, no charges have been filed.
Schrank called the operation “the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.”
The plant is being built by HL-GA Battery Company, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, at Hyundai’s existing electric vehicle assembly metaplant near Savannah, Georgia. The battery plant is expected to produce batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicles. It is part of Hyundai’s broader $12.6 billion investment in Georgia.
In March, leaders of Hyundai and Kia joined local dignitaries, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, to celebrate the opening of the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Ellabell, Georgia. They called the cumulative effort the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history.
Hyundai said in an update that it would investigate its suppliers and their subcontractors to ensure they meet regulations.
LG Energy Solution said it has asked employees to return from U.S. business trips while suspending travel to the United States, except for customer meetings.
LG said that 47 of its employees and about 250 workers for contractors at the joint venture factory were detained.
The immigration enforcement operation is part of a broader push by the federal government to crack down on the employment of illegal immigrants. In a statement on Sept. 4, Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) hailed the expanded authority of USCIS special agents, who are now empowered to “investigate, arrest, and present for prosecution those who violate America’s immigration laws,” they said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Saturday that Seoul would swiftly respond to the arrests and had formed a team to assist the more than 300 Korean nationals at the facility. Cho said he was prepared to travel to Washington to meet with U.S. officials if needed.
“I am deeply concerned. I feel heavy responsibility for the arrests of our citizens,” Cho said during an emergency government meeting.
Schrank also added in a statement on Saturday that the United States welcomes all companies who want to invest in America. “[I]f they need to bring workers in for building or other projects, that’s fine—but they need to do it the legal way,” he said.
“This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
