Nearly 500 workers have been detained in a major immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle plant in Georgia, a southeastern US state. Officials said it was the largest workplace operation under President Donald Trump’s second term, according to BBC.
Homeland Security said the raid followed months of investigation into unlawful employment practices. About 300 of those arrested are South Korean nationals. Hyundai said none of the detainees were directly employed by the company and production remains unaffected, though its battery partner LG Energy Solutions paused construction.
President Trump defended the action, saying it targeted illegal workers, while South Korea voiced “concern and regret,” sending diplomats to ensure the rights of its citizens are respected.
The raid underscores tensions between Trump’s push to expand US manufacturing and his strict immigration crackdown, even as South Korean firms invest heavily in American industry, BBC reported.
