Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the arrest of 475 illegal migrants during a major immigration enforcement raid on Thursday at a Hyundai electric car battery factory in Georgia.
HSI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank noted that while the raid was at a Hyundai facility, not all the migrants worked for the parent company. Some worked for subcontractors at the site.
"We are sending a clear and unequivocal message that those who exploit our workforce, undermine our economy and violate federal laws will be held accountable," Schrank said during a news conference on Friday.
Several other agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), took part in the raid at the Hyundai–LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Ellabell, which is located about 20 miles outside Savannah.
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The raid was the largest single site operation HSI has carried out and follows major raids at other workplaces over the last few months under the Trump administration.
The facility, a $4.3 billion to $7.6 billion Hyundai–LGES joint venture, is slated to supply batteries to Hyundai’s nearby Savannah EV plant and stands as the largest single industrial investment in Georgia’s history.
Construction at the site, which stretches over 3,000 acres, has been suspended, but there was no interruption at the adjacent EV manufacturing facility.
The South Korean foreign ministry expressed "concern and regret" over the raid and sent a counselor and embassy officials to the location.
"Our companies’ economic activities and our people’s rights should not be infringed unfairly in the US legal enforcement process," Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry, said on Friday, according to the Financial Times.
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Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads to the Hyundai site. The Georgia Department of Public Safety confirmed to the Associated Press that they were dispatched to assist federal authorities.
The raid comes after South Korea agreed to $350 billion worth of investments in the U.S. as part of a trade deal struck in July.
The battery plant under construction is scheduled to begin operations at the end of this year, LGES told the Financial Times.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details," LGES told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities."
Hyundai also said it is aware of the raid and believes that none of its workers were detained.
"As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company," Hyundai told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate."
The Department of Homeland Security said that ICE Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement offices "executed a judicial search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes."
"This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy, and protecting workers from exploitation," DHS told Fox News Digital. "This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law. Complex cases like this require strong collaboration and extensive investigative efforts, and we extend our gratitude to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, FBI, DEA, Customs and Border Protection, ATF, IRS, and the Georgia State Patrol for their invaluable support."
"Each agency contributed specialized expertise that was critical to the success of this lengthy investigation," the department said.
Video posted to social media Thursday showed workers in yellow safety vests lined up as a man – wearing a face mask and a tactical vest with the letters HSI – tells them: "We’re Homeland Security. We have a search warrant for the whole site."
"We need construction to cease immediately," the man says. "We need all work to end on the site right now."
Fox News' Cameron Arcand and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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