U.S. Immigration Raid at Hyundai–LG Georgia Plant: Repatriation Planned but Departure Still Unclear
ATLANTA - Roughly 475 workers were detained during a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia on September 4, more than 300 of them South Korean nationals. The South Korean government has prepared a charter flight to bring its citizens home, but the exact timing of the departure remains uncertain amid U.S. procedural delays.
South Korean officials said a chartered Korean Air flight had been lined up to leave Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, around 2:30 p.m. local time, though that plan has since been pushed back while talks with U.S. authorities continue. However, South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that negotiations with U.S. authorities have delayed the process. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is currently in Washington, where he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss re-entry guarantees and ways to prevent similar incidents.
South Korean officials said a chartered Korean Air flight had been lined up to leave Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, around 2:30 p.m. local time, though that plan has since been pushed back while talks with U.S. authorities continue. Immigration experts note that existing categories, including business or short-term visas, often fail to clearly define employment rights.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has promoted the $7.6 billion Hyundai-LG project as the anchor of his vision to make the state an "electric mobility capital." With $2.1 billion in state incentives tied to the facility, analysts warn that the raid could cast doubt on the state's business climate and complicate future foreign investment.
Hyundai Motor has responded by launching an internal review of its supply chain labor practices. Chris Susock, head of North American manufacturing, has been tasked with leading the audit and strengthening compliance oversight. Hyundai said it has reminded suppliers and subcontractors that they must follow U.S. labor rules, adding that the company would tighten oversight of hiring practices in the months ahead.
The fallout from the raid now extends beyond a single construction site. For Washington, the case has turned into a test of whether strict immigration enforcement can coexist with its push for new factories and foreign capital. Analysts note that the way this dispute is resolved will influence Hyundai's long-term plans in Georgia and may also affect how open the U.S. looks to outside investors and skilled workers.
