In a stunning show of federal force, nearly a dozen government agencies descended on a sprawling Hyundai electric vehicle plant in Bryan County, Georgia, on Thursday, arresting approximately 450 illegal immigrants in a massive immigration enforcement raid that has already sparked international controversy.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed its participation via a post on X, stating:
Today, @ATFAtlanta joined HSI, FBI, DEA, ICE, GSP and other agencies in a major immigration enforcement operation at the Hyundai mega site battery plant in Bryan County, GA, leading to the apprehension of ~450 unlawful aliens, emphasizing our commitment to community safety. #ATF pic.twitter.com/su6raLrLu6
— ATF Atlanta (@ATFAtlanta) September 4, 2025
The raid targeted the HL-GA Battery Company, a $7.6 billion Hyundai-LG joint venture that began operations last year. The facility—intended to anchor the region’s booming EV industry—employs roughly 1,200 people and was in the midst of expanding operations with a massive battery plant slated for completion by 2026. That expansion is now on pause.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the raid was part of an “ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.”
While authorities have not disclosed which companies or subcontractors may have employed the undocumented workers, the magnitude of the raid suggests a sophisticated and widespread network of illegal labor within the supply chain. The arrests are already reverberating beyond U.S. borders.
The South Korean government, alarmed by the scope and intensity of the operation, issued a rare diplomatic protest. “The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement operations,” said the South Korean Foreign Ministry. Officials from the Korean Consulate General were dispatched to the site, and a formal complaint was delivered through the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Meanwhile, HL-GA Battery Company temporarily halted construction and confirmed law enforcement had shut down access to parts of the facility. “This did not impact people getting to work,” said spokesperson Bianca Johnson. “Production and normal office hours had already begun for the day.”
The raid lands squarely in the spotlight of President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration since retaking office in January. According to Border Patrol News, ICE has arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants and removed 65,682, with nearly 75% having criminal records. In total, 145,419 illegal immigrants have been deported from detention centers in just nine months, with June alone seeing nearly 28,000 deportations—the highest monthly total in recent history.
This enforcement action signals a zero-tolerance policy under Trump’s administration, especially toward high-profile employers seen as turning a blind eye to illegal hiring practices in the name of rapid expansion or labor savings.