A major immigration enforcement operation recently took place at a battery manufacturing facility in Ellabell, a small unincorporated community in southeastern Georgia. Conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it marked the largest single-site enforcement action since the agency’s establishment in November 2002. The plant is jointly operated by South Korean firms Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions, part of a significant foreign investment in the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain.
No Hyundai employees were detained during the raid. The approximately 500 individuals taken into custody were temporary or subcontracted workers, primarily Korean nationals. The incident has drawn national attention, particularly because the facility represents a key achievement of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s economic development agenda, which he highlighted during his 2022 re-election campaign.
The operation underscores ongoing federal efforts to enforce immigration regulations in workplaces, with the White House indicating that similar actions will continue. While the plant remains operational, the event has sparked debate over labor practices in large-scale industrial projects involving international partnerships.
This development highlights the intersection of immigration policy, economic development, and political messaging, as high-profile investments become focal points in broader national conversations.
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Hyundai immigration raid targets Gov. Kemp’s economic milestone| On The Record
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Last week’s stunning immigration raid in a tiny southeast Georgia town continues to politically reverberate across the nation, as the White House promises more such workplace operations will continue. n nThe raid took place in the tiny, unincorporated Georgia community of Ellabell, when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security undertook the largest single-site enforcement operation since its November 2002 founding. n nThe site was a battery manufacturing plant operated by two Korean companies, Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions. No Hyundai employees were detained; the roughly 500 Korean nationals were contracted and subcontracted workers. n nThe operation also took place at one of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature economic achievements that he announced during his 2022 reelection campaign. n nWatch On the Record With Atlanta News First every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First and its streaming platforms. n nAtlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information. n nAtlanta News First podcasts are available now on:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTube