South Korea and U.S. Reach Agreement to Release Over 300 Workers Detained at Hyundai Plant in Georgia
SEOUL — South Korea has announced a deal with the United States to release more than 300 South Korean nationals detained during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, U.S., officials said Sunday.
The sweeping raid conducted last Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents resulted in the detention of approximately 475 immigrants suspected of living and working illegally in the U.S., with the majority being South Korean nationals, according to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and South Korean government sources.
Hyundai Motor Company owns the sprawling manufacturing site where the operation took place, though the automaker clarified that none of the detained individuals were directly employed by Hyundai. Instead, many of the arrested workers had been employed by subcontractors involved in the battery plant’s construction, which has since been paused amid the controversy.
South Korea’s presidential chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, confirmed that negotiations between Seoul and Washington had been finalized for the workers’ release. The South Korean government plans to facilitate their swift return by arranging a charter flight once the final administrative procedures are completed.
During a press briefing, Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama, detailed that the detainees included a mix of individuals who had either crossed into the U.S. illegally or had overstayed expired visas or visa waivers that did not permit employment.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement last week expressing “concern and regret” regarding the ICE raid, emphasizing the welfare of the detained nationals. President Lee Jae Myung’s office stated a commitment to ensuring these workers’ rights and expediting their safe repatriation.
Hyundai Motor Company emphasized its compliance with U.S. laws and stated, “We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate.” The company highlighted that none of those detained were on its direct payroll.
This immigration enforcement operation reflects a broader trend of intensified workplace raids under the current U.S. administration, aiming to target unauthorized employment. ICE and other federal agencies have recently increased efforts to crack down on undocumented labor in various sectors, including manufacturing and agriculture.
The Georgia Hyundai plant, a vital hub for electric vehicle battery manufacturing, remains operationally paused as subcontractor work halts in response to the legal uncertainties and worker detentions.
U.S. and South Korean officials continue to coordinate closely to ensure the release and repatriation process adheres to legal and humanitarian standards while addressing the complexities of immigration enforcement and foreign worker protections.
Details on the exact timeline for the charter flight and final deportation logistics remain forthcoming, as both countries work through the necessary bureaucratic steps to conclude this matter.