The fallout from the massive immigration raid at the Hyundai LG battery plant in Georgia continues to ripple across borders. On September 4, 2025, U.S. immigration authorities detained nearly 475 workers at the construction site, including more than 300 South Korean nationals. The raid, the largest single site operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security, immediately triggered a diplomatic storm between Washington and Seoul.
In the days that followed, South Korea launched urgent negotiations to secure the release of its citizens. Officials confirmed that an agreement had been reached to repatriate the workers, with charter flights being prepared to return them home once all legal paperwork is completed. The foreign minister was dispatched to Washington to manage the fallout, underscoring the seriousness of the situation for Seoul.
For Hyundai and LG, the raid has disrupted what was meant to be one of Georgia’s most celebrated investment projects, a multi billion dollar complex that promised to anchor the state’s electric vehicle future. Instead, the detention of subcontractor employees has raised questions about labor practices, visa protections, and the stability of foreign investment in the United States. LG Energy Solution even suspended business trips to the U.S. in response.
President Donald Trump defended the raid as a necessary enforcement action and warned foreign companies to follow U.S. immigration laws, stressing that jobs should first be offered to American workers. While his remarks found support among immigration hardliners, they also risked straining economic ties with one of America’s closest allies at a time when cooperation on clean energy and defense has never been more important.
For the workers and their families, the outcome brings relief, though many remain shaken by the experience. For South Korea, the incident highlights the need to push for stronger safeguards for citizens working abroad. And for the United States, it underscores the tension between strict enforcement and the delicate balance of international trust in a global economy.