GEORGIA (WDNews) – Federal agents detained roughly 475 people during a large-scale immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site in Georgia, according to Homeland Security officials.
Steven Schrank, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, said Friday the majority of those detained were from South Korea. He described the operation as the largest single-site enforcement action in the agency’s history.
“This operation underscores our commitment to jobs for Georgians and Americans,” Schrank said.
The raid followed months of investigation based on tips from community members and former workers. Officials said the employees were tied to a network of subcontractors and not directly employed by Hyundai.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a large number of South Korean nationals were among those detained, though an exact figure was not given.
The Department of Homeland Security stated the operation was part of an ongoing criminal probe into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.
Hyundai spokesperson Bianca Johnson said operations at the plant were not interrupted.
