In a significant development affecting one of Georgia’s largest industrial projects, US immigration authorities conducted a massive raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing complex, detaining 450+ workers and temporarily halting battery plant construction.
September 2025 Immigration Enforcement Action
US federal agencies executed a coordinated immigration raid on September 4, 2025, at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) complex in Ellabell, Bryan County, Georgia. The operation involved multiple agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, DEA, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Steven Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, confirmed that 475 people were detained, with the majority being South Korean nationals. The raid targeted the construction site of the joint venture battery manufacturing facility between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that agents executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes”. Construction activities at the battery plant were immediately suspended, though vehicle production at the adjacent EV manufacturing facility remained unaffected.
Diplomatic Response from South Korea
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed “concern and regret” over the raid, with spokesperson Lee Jaewoong describing the number of detained South Korean workers as “large”. The ministry dispatched diplomats to the site and urged US authorities to “ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Korean citizens are not infringed upon”.
Lee Jae-woong emphasized that “the economic activities of our companies operating in the US and the rights of our nationals should not be unjustly infringed upon during US law enforcement processes”. South Korean embassy and consulate officials were sent from Washington and Atlanta to assist the detained workers.
Hyundai’s Georgia Metaplant: A Manufacturing Giant
Grand Opening and Production Milestones
Hyundai Motor Group celebrated the grand opening of its Metaplant America on March 26, 2025, after beginning construction in October 2022. The facility achieved a remarkable milestone by starting vehicle production ahead of schedule, with the first Hyundai IONIQ 5 rolling off the assembly line on October 3, 2024.
The 2,900-acre facility represents Georgia’s largest economic development project in history, with a total investment of $12.6 billion from Hyundai Motor Group. The complex currently employs approximately 1,200 people and initially produces 300,000 vehicles annually, with plans to expand to 500,000 vehicles per year.
Vehicle Production Portfolio
The Georgia plant produces multiple electric vehicle models across Hyundai’s brands:
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 – First model produced (October 2024)
- Hyundai IONIQ 9 – Three-row electric SUV now in production
- Kia models – Set to begin production in 2026
- Genesis EVs – Future production planned
The facility is also equipped to produce hybrid vehicles in addition to fully electric models.
Battery Manufacturing Joint Ventures
LG Energy Solution Partnership
Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution formed a 50-50 joint venture in May 2023, investing $4.3 billion to build a battery cell manufacturing facility adjacent to the vehicle plant. The HL-GA Battery Company facility is scheduled to begin operations in early 2026 with an annual capacity of 30 GWh, sufficient to support 300,000 EV units annually.
Construction began in the second half of 2023, but was suspended during the September 2025 immigration raid. LG Energy Solution stated it was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with Korean government authorities to secure the release of detained employees.
SK On Joint Venture
In April 2023, Hyundai announced a second battery partnership with SK On, involving a $5 billion investment to build a battery facility in Bartow County, Georgia. This plant will have an annual capacity of 35 GWh and is expected to start operations in the second half of 2025.
The Bartow County facility will create more than 3,500 jobs and supply batteries to Hyundai’s US manufacturing facilities including the Georgia Metaplant, Alabama plant, and Kia’s Georgia facility.
Economic Impact and Supply Chain Development
The Hyundai Metaplant has catalyzed significant economic development in Georgia, with the project expected to create nearly 40,000 direct and indirect jobs and generate $4.6 billion in individual earnings annually.
Supplier Network Expansion
More than 17 suppliers have announced new factories to support the Hyundai plant, representing an additional $2.7 billion in investment and 7,000+ jobs. Key suppliers include:
- Hanon Systems – $40+ million investment, 160 jobs
- NVH Korea – $72 million investment, 160 jobs
- Daesol Ausys – $72 million investment, 140 jobs
- DAS Corp – $35 million investment, 300 jobs
- Woory Industrial – $18 million investment, 130+ jobs
As of July 2024, supplier investments had reached $2.5 billion, more than doubling the originally anticipated $1 billion in supplier investments.
Strategic Significance for EV Industry
Inflation Reduction Act Benefits
The Georgia-built vehicles qualify for up to $7,500 in US tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, making them significantly more competitive. This reduces the IONIQ 5’s entry price from $41,800 to $34,300, potentially boosting demand substantially.
Autonomous Vehicle Partnership
Hyundai entered a multi-year partnership with Waymo to integrate autonomous driving technology into Georgia-built IONIQ 5 vehicles for the Waymo One fleet. Road tests with Waymo-enabled vehicles are scheduled to begin in late 2025.
Future Expansion Plans
Hyundai Motor Group announced in March 2025 an additional $21 billion investment in US operations from 2025-2028, targeting a total annual production capacity of 1.2 million vehicles across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands.
Combined with existing facilities in Alabama (330,000 units) and West Point, Georgia (350,000 units), Hyundai’s total US production capacity will reach approximately 1.18 million vehicles annually.
The September 2025 immigration raid represents a significant challenge for this ambitious expansion, potentially affecting construction timelines and workforce development as the company navigates federal enforcement actions while maintaining its commitment to US manufacturing and job creation.