A sweeping US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site in Georgia has sparked outrage in South Korea, after hundreds of its nationals were detained in what US authorities called the largest single-site operation under President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown.
About 475 people, including dozens of South Korean workers, were arrested during Thursday’s raid. Footage released by US officials showed detainees in handcuffs and ankle chains being escorted onto buses — images that have dominated South Korean media and fueled anger over Washington’s treatment of its ally.
“This incident has left the Korean people feeling betrayed,” the Hankyoreh newspaper wrote, reflecting widespread frustration as Seoul prepares to repatriate its citizens on a government-chartered plane.
The facility — a $4.3 billion joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution — is expected to open in 2026, producing enough batteries to power 300,000 electric vehicles annually. Experts warn the raid could delay the project and dampen South Korean investment in the US, despite assurances from LG that production timelines remain unchanged.
Seoul has urged Washington to respect investor rights, while analysts say the crackdown highlights a widening gap between the US’s push for foreign investment and its tightening immigration controls.
More than 250 of those detained are believed to have been hired by contractors, many reportedly working under short-term visas that do not permit construction work.
South Korea’s government confirmed Sunday that arrangements had been reached for the workers’ release and repatriation, though those wishing to challenge their detention in US immigration court will remain in custody.
