Big news South Korean workers detained Georgia
Ellabell, Georgia – 4 September 2025:
A sudden and dramatic immigration raid in the small town of
Ellabell in the American province of Georgia has captured the attention of
media around the world. U.S. Homeland Security has detained approximately 475
workers during a raid on an electric vehicle battery plant being built by
Hyundai and LG. The majority of them were reportedly from South Korea. The
incident instantly made headlines and a phrase started doing the rounds: South
Korean workers detained in Georgia.
Details of the raid
On the morning of September 4, while Hyundai and LG’s
under-construction mega battery plant was operating as usual, U.S. immigration
officers suddenly entered the site. According to local media reports, the raid
began at 7:00 am and continued until evening. There was chaos among the workers
at the plant when uniformed officers began checking IDs and visas.
According to officials, many workers either had expired
visas or their documents were incomplete. For this reason, they were
immediately put on buses and shifted to detention centers. It would not be
wrong to say that a small city like Ellabel has seen such a large federal
operation for the first time.
America’s Biggest Site Raid
This was the biggest “single-site” raid in recent US history,
observers said. immigration enforcement. Local authorities said that most of
the 475 detainees were skilled technicians and laborers who were specially
called from Korea for the construction of this plant.
Georgia’s local newspaper Savannah Morning News reported
that this sudden raid has raised questions over the future of Hyundai’s
multi-billion dollar project.
Trump’s Statement
On September 5, 2025, President Donald Trump posted an
official statement on Truth Social. He wrote:
“The operation that took place at the Hyundai plant is
a reminder that investment is welcome in America but immigration laws must be
respected. Foreign companies should bring their skilled people legally. We want
you to hire and train American employees. America will be productive and united only when
everyone follows the rules.”
This statement made it clear that the Trump administration
is not against foreign investment, but is definitely against illegal employment.
Trump also said that Hyundai and LG will now have to ensure that the local
workforce gets more opportunities.
Protest in South Korea
This development in Seoul shocked both the government
department and the public. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded its
“serious concern” to Washington. On September 6, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun took
an urgent flight to Washington DC and held a meeting with U.S. officials.
South Korea said that its citizens came to America under
proper agreements and that the U.S. is responsible for protecting their safety
and dignity. Seoul also confirmed that it is arranging a charter flight that
will take the detained workers back to Korea.
Reaction of the local community
Residents of Savannah and Ellabell reported that the raid has created a
sense of unease in their neighborhoods. The
Hyundai plant brought development and jobs to the area, but now people are
afraid that the project will be delayed.
A local resident said: “We thought the Hyundai plant would
bring a bright future to our city. But now it seems that construction will slow
down. If skilled workers leave, work may stop.”
Phrase Goonj
American and Korean media repeatedly made headlines about
this incident. Every news outlet is using the same phrase:
“South Korean workers detained in Georgia.”
This phrase is repeated again and again from CNN to Seoul TV
channels. This keyword has been used multiple times in this article as well to
make it clear what the real news is.
Economic Asraat
Hyundai and LG’s battery plant is part of a 2.5 billion
dollar investment to strengthen the electric vehicle supply chain in the US.
Now this incident is not only creating diplomatic pressure but can also affect
the speed of the project.
Analysts say that if the detainees are sent back, bringing
new skilled workers legally will be time-consuming and the project’s deadlines
may be missed.
outcome
This raid in Ellabell, Georgia has become a test case for
America–South Korea relations. Now everyone’s eyes are on the Trump administration
and Seoul. Will the detainees be released and sent back quickly? Will the
Hyundai project suffer delays? And most importantly – will foreign companies
now take immigration rules more seriously before investing in America?
All these questions are still open. But one thing is clear:
the incident of Georgia detaining South Korean workers has become the biggest
international news of 2025.