Overview

• Homeland Security Investigations executed a judge-approved search warrant after a multi-month probe into alleged unlawful employment practices and other federal crimes at the Ellabell megasite.
• The operation detained about 475 people and was described by HSI as the largest single-site enforcement in its history, with ICE, ATF, FBI, DEA and Georgia State Patrol participating.
• Officials said most detainees are South Korean nationals, and Seoul dispatched consular teams and reported that more than 300 of those held are believed to be its citizens.
• Those detained were transferred to ICE’s Folkston facility for immigration processing, with authorities citing illegal entry, visa overstays or work that violated visa terms.
• HL‑GA Battery Company paused construction to cooperate with investigators, Hyundai said EV production at the adjacent plant continued, and the company said detainees worked for subcontractors rather than being directly employed by Hyundai.