Hundreds Detained in Raid on Hyundai-LG Battery Plant Construction Site

On September 5, 2025, U.S. law enforcement and immigration authorities conducted a large-scale raid at a Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution battery production facility under construction in Georgia. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), up to 450 "unlawful aliens" were detained during the operation.

The facility, which is scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year, is a joint venture between the South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor. A spokesperson for the Hyundai-GA battery company stated that construction work has been paused to assist the authorities with their investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices at the site.

While the exact details of the raid are still emerging, a representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that multiple federal agencies were involved in the "judicially authorized enforcement operation." The investigation is ongoing, and arrests have been made as part of the probe.

The news has raised concerns about the labor practices at the high-profile battery plant project, which is seen as a crucial part of the growing electric vehicle supply chain in the United States.