Most of the 475 individuals arrested during a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Georgia were South Korean nationals, further straining recent ties between Washington and Seoul.
Most of the 475 people detained in a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Georgia were South Koreans suspected of working illegally in the United States, an official said Friday.
The operation comes as President Donald Trump continues to enforce a tough stance on immigration, vowing to launch the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.
According to Steven Schrank, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in Atlanta, the raid was part of a “criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes.”
He noted that it marked “the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.”
“This operation underscores our commitment to jobs for Georgians and Americans,” Schrank added at a press briefing.
Hyundai Motor said none of those detained were directly employed by the company, adding that it would launch an internal review to ensure its suppliers and subcontractors comply with labor regulations.
“Hyundai has zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the law,” the automaker said in a statement.
Strains in US–South Korea Relations
The South Korean government expressed “concern and regret” to the US Embassy in Seoul, urging Washington to safeguard the rights of its citizens.
“The economic activities of our investors and the legitimate rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the course of US law enforcement,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong told reporters.
The arrests risk deepening tensions between Washington and Seoul, traditionally close allies, already divided over aspects of a trade agreement involving $350 billion (€300 billion) in investments. At a summit last month, South Korea pledged $150 billion in US projects, including $26 billion from Hyundai Motor.
