News Summary
U.S. immigration authorities raided Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site in Bryan County, Georgia, halting construction at a nearby battery factory. The ICE operation, part of an investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices, targeted workers in the battery construction project. Despite the raid, operations at the main EV plant continued as normal. The HL-GA Battery, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, announced a halt in construction and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. This event underscores the growing scrutiny of labor practices within the expanding electric vehicle sector.
Bryan County, Georgia – U.S. immigration authorities conducted a substantial raid on Thursday at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site, impacting one of Georgia’s largest industrial projects and prompting a halt to construction at an adjacent battery factory. The operation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), signifies an ongoing investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices and related federal violations at the high-profile $7.6 billion facility located west of Savannah.
The Hyundai plant, which has been manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) for approximately one year, currently employs around 1,200 workers. While the raid focused on the construction site of the joint venture battery factory—HL-GA Battery, a collaboration between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution—Hyundai indicated that operations at the main EV plant continued without interruption. Normal office hours resumed before the operation commenced.
During the raid, ICE agents instructed all personnel present to cease construction immediately, citing a search warrant for the entire property. An agent reported that the primary focus of the operation involved workers at the battery construction site, but specific details were scarce. The Georgia State Patrol assisted by blocking access roads, and video footage revealed agents questioning workers about their citizenship, lining them up, and searching their bags.
ICE confirmed that the raid is part of a broader criminal investigation targeting significant violations of labor laws and other serious unlawful practices. Throughout the operation, large buses and undercover law enforcement vehicles were positioned at the site, indicating the extensive nature of the enforcement effort.
Following the operation, HL-GA Battery announced it has suspended construction and will fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. No official reports have detailed how many individuals were detained or arrested during the raid, leaving questions regarding the immediate impact on the workforce at the manufacturing site.
The raid is part of a strategic immigration enforcement campaign that has been reinforced since the previous administration, reflecting a continued commitment to address immigration-related offenses across various sectors of industry. In recent months, courts have ruled against President Trump’s import taxes, and a report by the Pew Research Center indicated a significant loss of over 1.2 million immigrants in the U.S. labor force during the first half of the year.
The HL-GA Battery plant, slated to open next year, will play a critical role in the production of EV batteries, a sector essential for the growing electric vehicle market. The current situation surrounding the Hyundai manufacturing site highlights the intersection of federal immigration policy and the evolving landscape of American manufacturing, particularly in the rapidly expanding field of electric vehicles.
As federal authorities continue to investigate and assess compliance with labor laws, this raid serves as a clear signal of the increased scrutiny being applied to industries employing large numbers of workers, particularly in states actively engaged in economic development and job creation tied to emerging technologies.
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