On September 4, 2025, federal authorities detained more than 475 people during an immigration-enforcement operation at a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. South Korean government figures later put the number of South Korean nationals at 317. The operation, led by Homeland Security Investigations and called Operation Low Voltage, involved a federal search warrant and an investigation into alleged unlawful employment, immigration violations and possible fraudulent identity documents.
The central dispute was not simply whether the workers had passports, visas or authorization to enter the United States. It was whether the specific work they performed—installing equipment, constructing and commissioning production lines, or training U.S. employees—was permitted by their particular immigration status. South Korea objected to the workers being restrained and negotiated their departure. On September 12, 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign workers arrived in South Korea under a voluntary-return arrangement.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The battery project was delayed but not abandoned. By April 2026, local reporting said the facility was preparing to open after production-process calibration. The public record still does not establish the final legal status of every detainee or the ultimate outcome of the federal investigation.
What happened at the Georgia battery plant?
The operation took place on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at HL-GA Battery Company LLC, 9730 U.S. Highway 280, Ellabell, Georgia, in Bryan County near Savannah.
#1 Best Overall
- In The Box: Pack of 40 1.5 volt AA alkaline batteries with high energy density to deliver reliable performance
- 5-Year Shelf Life: Ideal for long-term storage & emergencies. Power devices in the workplace, office, or outdoors
- Device Compatible: For remotes, wireless mice / headsets, radio equipment, electronic tools, smart home devices & more
- Industrial Grade: AA batteries with anti-corrosion components & zinc composition
- Bulk Pack: Ideal for household, industrial, OEM and professional use. Cadmium, lead and mercury free
HL-GA is a Hyundai Motor Group–LG Energy Solution joint venture developing a lithium-ion battery-cell manufacturing facility. The targeted property covers roughly 35 acres within the approximately 2,900-acre Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America campus.
That distinction matters. The operation was aimed at the adjacent battery plant under construction, not primarily at Hyundai’s already-operating electric-vehicle assembly building. Referring to the event simply as an immigration raid at the Hyundai factory blurs the separate facilities, companies and workforces involved.
More than 400 federal, state and local officers participated, according to federal authorities. The agencies listed by the Justice Department included:
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
- Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Georgia State Patrol
Although the event is commonly described as a raid, agents were executing a federal search warrant filed in the Southern District of Georgia. The Justice Department identified the operation as an investigation rather than a completed criminal prosecution.
What did the search warrant authorize?
A federal magistrate judge filed the warrant on September 2, 2025, in case 4:25-MJ-00081-CLR. The warrant authorized a search of the HL-GA premises and business records connected to suspected:
- Conspiracy to conceal, harbor or shield noncitizens.
- Concealing, harboring or shielding noncitizens.
- Unlawful employment of noncitizens.
- Use or distribution of potentially fraudulent identity documents.
Agents were authorized to seek employment records, payroll data, time cards, schedules, I-9 employment-eligibility forms, recruitment and hiring records, and documents relating to work authorization. The warrant also covered passports, visas, Social Security cards and employment authorization documents, as well as communications and electronic files stored on computers, phones and other devices.
The warrant named four target persons—Andreina Fuentes-Tovar, Kevin Zavaleta-Ramirez, David Zavaleta-Ramirez and Julio Gonzalez Alvarado—and identified records involving HL-GA and named contractors or subcontractors, including TK LLC, Autorica LLC, SBY America, Beyond Iron Construction LLC and Steel Brothers Development Inc.
A warrant naming four target persons is not the same as a warrant authorizing the arrest of hundreds of people. The larger number of detentions resulted from actions taken while agents searched the site and screened workers for immigration and employment issues. The publicly available warrant does not establish that all four named people were arrested, nor does it establish guilt or wrongdoing by every company or worker mentioned in it.
How many people were detained?
Federal authorities initially reported that more than 475 people were detained. South Korean and company reporting later supplied more specific categories, but the figures come from different sources and are not necessarily additive.
| Category | Reported figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Total detained | More than 475 | Figure publicly reported by U.S. federal authorities. |
| South Korean nationals | 317 | Later figure cited by the South Korean government. |
| South Koreans who flew home | 316 | One South Korean detainee reportedly did not join the initial return flight. |
| Other foreign workers on the charter flight | 14 | South Korea identified three Japanese, 10 Chinese and one Indonesian national. |
| LG Energy Solution employees | 47 | LG-linked reporting identified 46 South Koreans and one Indonesian. |
| Subcontractor workers | About 250 | A contemporary Yonhap report gave this approximate figure; it was not a complete accounting of all detainees. |
The 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign workers who flew to South Korea account for 330 people, not the full reported detention population. Depending on the exact meaning of the federal figure more than 475, roughly 145 or more detainees were not included in that charter group. The public reporting reviewed for this article does not provide an authoritative, person-by-person account of what happened to everyone else.
Rank #2
- IN THE BOX: 48-pack of 1.5 volt AA alkaline batteries for reliable performance across a wide range of devices
- DEVICE COMPATIBLE: Ideal battery for game controllers, toys, flashlights, digital cameras, clocks, and more
- DESIGNED TO LAST: 10-year leak-free shelf life; store for emergencies or use right away
- EASY USE & STORAGE: Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging; easy to open and store extras for later use
- SINGLE USE: These batteries are NOT rechargeable; for rechargeable options, check out Amazon Basics rechargeable batteries
The categories also overlap. For example, an LG employee could be included in the South Korean total, while a subcontractor worker could be part of the overall detention count. They should not be added together to produce a new total.
Were all the workers undocumented?
No such blanket conclusion has been established. Federal officials said agents found more than 475 people they characterized as unlawfully working at the site. The Justice Department said the investigation involved people who allegedly entered the country without authorization, overstayed visas or used the Visa Waiver Program for work that was not allowed.
Those allegations covered different situations:
- Some people may have entered the United States without authorization or overstayed.
- Some reportedly entered lawfully but were suspected of violating the terms of a B-1/B-2 visa.
- Some reportedly entered through the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA, which permits qualifying short-term business visits but not employment.
- Others may have had permission for a narrow technical activity but allegedly performed work outside that permission.
Calling everyone an illegal immigrant or an illegal worker would therefore overstate what was established. The Justice Department’s description was an official allegation, not a judicial finding against every person detained. Its announcement said the investigation was ongoing and that people were presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Contemporary local reporting said no criminal charges had been filed at the initial press briefing.
Immigration detention also is not the same thing as a criminal conviction. People can be detained for immigration-enforcement purposes while the government investigates their status, even when the underlying conduct has not resulted in a criminal judgment.
Why were South Korean engineers and technicians at the site?
The battery facility was being built and commissioned with technology and equipment connected to South Korean companies. Workers were reportedly sent to Georgia temporarily to:
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
- Install and calibrate specialized battery-making equipment.
- Commission production lines before commercial manufacturing began.
- Transfer technical knowledge unavailable in the local workforce.
- Train American employees and future plant operators.
- Help bring the facility online before normal U.S. staffing took over.
Not everyone detained worked directly for Hyundai. Hyundai said the people taken into custody were not its direct employees. The broader corporate structure included HL-GA, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai-related entities, contractors and subcontractors. LG Energy Solution employees made up one reported group, while many others worked for construction, engineering or equipment-installation contractors.
That structure is important because responsibility for recruiting workers, selecting their visa classifications, paying them and supervising their duties may have been divided among several entities. Those employment and contracting relationships were among the matters covered by the warrant.
The visa dispute: having a visa did not automatically authorize the work
The legal question was more complicated than whether a worker possessed a valid passport or had been admitted at a U.S. port of entry.
B-1 business visitor status
The State Department says certain commercial or industrial workers can use B-1 business-visitor status to install, service or repair equipment purchased from a foreign company, or to train U.S. workers, but only under narrow conditions. The State Department’s B-1 guidance generally requires that:
Recommended Free Tools
- The contract specifically require the installation, service, repair or training.
- The worker possess unique knowledge essential to the contractual obligation.
- The worker not receive payment from a U.S. source.
- The activity not amount to ordinary U.S. employment.
- The work not constitute building or construction work.
Specialized trainers may also qualify for B-1 status when transferring proprietary knowledge or training U.S. workers, subject to the applicable conditions. In some circumstances, the visa may carry a B-1 SPECIALIZED TRAINER annotation.
Rank #3
- 300-pack of 1.5 volt AAA alkaline batteries packaged in bulk for industrial or high-volume use
- Lasting power delivery for a wide variety of electronic and hand-held devices
- 5-year shelf life and dependable performance
- For industrial or professional use
- Mercury/cadmium free
The industrial-equipment exception does not create a general work permit. A worker who is permitted to install or service a foreign-supplied machine may not necessarily be permitted to perform ordinary construction, production work or other labor at the facility.
ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program
South Korean citizens are eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program for qualifying business or tourism visits of up to 90 days with approval through ESTA. The State Department’s Visa Waiver Program guidance lists activities such as business consultations, conferences, contract negotiations and certain short-term training as permissible.
It expressly does not permit employment. ESTA approval is also not a general work authorization.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPublic reporting indicated that many workers had B-1 visas or ESTA entry. At least one internal ICE document reportedly identified a person with a valid B-1/B-2 visa. But a valid visa does not by itself prove that the person’s duties were authorized, and the existence of a visitor visa does not by itself prove unlawful employment. The relevant facts include the worker’s actual duties, contract, source of pay, employer, worksite and immigration classification at entry.
Why did South Korea object?
Seoul objected both to the treatment of its citizens and to the broader implication that technical personnel sent to help build a strategically important U.S. factory could be treated as unauthorized workers.
Images of workers being handcuffed and, in some cases, restrained with chains around their wrists, waists and ankles caused widespread shock in South Korea. South Korean officials asked that the workers be allowed to leave without physical restraints and sought assurances that their departure would not create future disadvantages when they applied to return to the United States.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raised the issue with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. South Korea described the workers as skilled engineers, equipment installers and trainers who had come to share technology and expertise as part of the revival of U.S. manufacturing.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry convened an overseas-nationals protection task force on September 6 and sent a rapid-response team to Georgia on September 8. Officials negotiated an early collective return, requested clarification of the workers’ treatment and later began surveying the returned nationals about their arrest, transportation, detention conditions and treatment.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that the episode could make Korean companies more cautious about investing in the United States. That concern had particular weight because the operation came shortly after the August 25, 2025, U.S.-South Korea summit and amid major Korean investment commitments. Hyundai had announced plans to increase its U.S. investment to approximately $26 billion through 2028.
Rank #4
- Dependable, powerful performance
- Designed specifically for professional applications
- Ideal for heavy current or continuous use devices
- Economical power for modern devices
What happened to the detainees?
The detainees were held at the Folkston Immigration Processing Center in Georgia. After negotiations between Seoul and Washington, the South Korean nationals were offered a voluntary-departure arrangement rather than being placed on a mass deportation flight.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On September 11, 2025, 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign workers departed the Folkston facility for South Korea. The charter flight arrived on September 12. One South Korean detainee reportedly declined to leave with the group at that time.
“Returned home” or “departed under a negotiated voluntary-return arrangement” is more accurate than saying that all of the South Korean workers were deported. A formal deportation or removal order is a distinct legal process, and the reviewed public sources do not establish that every person on the flight was formally deported.
South Korea later surveyed the 316 returnees about the operation. The survey announcement reflects Seoul’s effort to document the experience, but the public sources reviewed do not establish a final government finding that U.S. officials violated the detainees’ rights.
What did workers allege about their treatment?
Former detainees and their lawyers alleged that:
- Workers were handcuffed and, in some cases, placed in restraints around their wrists, waists and ankles.
- Phones and personal belongings were confiscated.
- Workers were transported to Folkston and held for about a week.
- Some detainees were not clearly told why they were being held or what their rights were.
- Some workers experienced unsanitary or overcrowded conditions.
- At least one worker alleged that guards mocked South Koreans with references to North Korea or gestures directed at their eyes.
These are allegations, not established findings. In November 2025, reporting said nearly 200 South Korean workers were considering or preparing possible legal action alleging unlawful arrest, racial profiling, excessive force and human-rights violations. The sources reviewed for this article did not verify a final judgment or settlement, so the litigation should not be described as a resolved lawsuit.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhat happened to the battery project?
The immediate business effect was a pause in construction and the loss of technical personnel needed to commission the plant. Hyundai CEO José Muñoz said the disruption could delay the opening by approximately two to three months.
LG Energy Solution said it remained committed to its U.S. and Georgia plans. Reporting later indicated that some South Korean engineers returned to Georgia after visas were reinstated or reissued, while other workers were brought in to continue construction and technical work. By November 2025, construction had reportedly resumed with a mixture of returning and new personnel.
The project continued into 2026. The official HL-GA website describes the venture as an investment of more than $4.3 billion intended to supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis electric vehicles. The wider Hyundai Georgia project was described in the state’s economic-development agreement as an approximately $7.59 billion investment tied to at least 8,500 jobs.
On April 15, 2026, local reporting said the battery plant was expected to open later that month after the raid-related delay and final calibration of its production processes. That supports the conclusion that the plant proceeded toward opening after a delay—not that the project was permanently stopped or that its full commercial production status was unaffected. The latest public sources reviewed do not establish the facility’s exact production level or confirm that it was fully operational.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Why the operation became a U.S.-South Korea policy issue
The incident exposed a practical conflict in the U.S. manufacturing strategy. Washington was encouraging foreign manufacturers to build factories and create American jobs, while immigration authorities detained many of the foreign specialists needed to install and commission those factories.
Best Value
- IN THE BOX: 36-pack of 1.5 volt AAA alkaline batteries for reliable performance across a wide range of devices
- DEVICE COMPATIBLE: Ideal for game controllers, toys, flashlights, digital cameras, clocks, and more
- DESIGNED TO LAST: 10-year leak-free shelf life; store for emergencies or use right away
- EASY USE & STORAGE: Ships in easy-to-open packaging
- SINGLE USE: These batteries are NOT rechargeable; for rechargeable options, check out Amazon Basics rechargeable batteries
For manufacturers, the distinction between permissible technical support and unauthorized employment can be difficult in practice. A project may require foreign engineers to work on equipment supplied by their overseas employer, train U.S. hires and coordinate a production launch. The same project may also involve construction, hands-on labor, supervision and payment arrangements that fall outside the B-1 or ESTA rules.
That creates financial and operational risks for both companies and workers:
- Project delays: losing specialized personnel can postpone equipment installation, calibration and commercial opening.
- Higher costs: companies may need to replace workers, reapply for visas, revise contracts or hire additional immigration counsel.
- Workforce uncertainty: foreign employees may be unwilling to travel if their duties and admission status are unclear.
- Investment risk: companies may factor immigration-enforcement uncertainty into the cost and timing of U.S. expansion.
- Compliance exposure: employers and contractors may face civil immigration penalties or criminal scrutiny if authorities believe they knowingly employed unauthorized workers or concealed them.
What policy changes followed?
South Korea and the United States created a ROK-U.S. Commercial Visit and Visa Working Group. Its first meeting took place on September 30, 2025, with participation from the U.S. State, Homeland Security, Commerce and Labor departments and South Korean ministries.
The discussions focused on:
- Clarifying which installation, maintenance, commissioning and training activities are permitted under B-1 status.
- Improving visa and admission processing for corporate technical personnel.
- Creating a dedicated channel for Korean investors and manufacturers.
- Exploring a Korea-specific high-skilled visa category.
- Improving consistency between State Department visa decisions and Department of Homeland Security enforcement at worksites.
Congress also saw a proposed response. The Partner with Korea Act, H.R. 4687, introduced on July 23, 2025, would create a Korea-specific high-skilled visa pathway with up to 15,000 principal applicants per fiscal year. As of the latest congressional status reviewed, the bill remained introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It had not become law.
Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia also requested answers from the Justice Department and Homeland Security about the operation in an October 30, 2025, letter. That request was part of the continuing oversight and accountability questions surrounding the raid.
Timeline of the Georgia battery-plant operation
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2, 2025 | Federal magistrate judge filed the HL-GA search warrant in case 4:25-MJ-00081-CLR. |
| September 4 | Federal, state and local agencies executed the warrant at the battery plant under construction in Ellabell. |
| September 5 | The Southern District of Georgia announced Operation Low Voltage and reported more than 475 detainees. |
| September 6 | South Korea convened an overseas-nationals protection task force. |
| September 8 | Seoul sent a rapid-response team to Georgia. |
| September 11–12 | 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign workers departed the Folkston facility; the charter arrived in South Korea on September 12. |
| September 14 | South Korea’s vice foreign minister urged U.S. institutional reforms and measures to prevent a recurrence. |
| September 22 | South Korea began surveying the 316 returned nationals. |
| September 30 | The first meeting of the bilateral commercial-visit and visa working group was held. |
| November 2025 | Reporting indicated that some engineers had returned to Georgia and that nearly 200 South Korean workers were considering possible legal action. |
| April 15, 2026 | Local reporting said the battery plant was preparing to open later that month after delays and final production calibration. |
What remains unresolved?
- What happened to the roughly 145 or more detainees who were not included in the September charter group?
- Did federal prosecutors ultimately bring criminal charges against any employers, contractors or individuals?
- What did the full federal investigation conclude?
- Were the four people named in the search warrant arrested or charged?
- What did South Korea’s survey of the 316 returnees find about detention conditions and treatment?
- Was the reported lawsuit filed, and if so, what was its outcome?
- Did Congress enact a Korea-specific high-skilled visa?
- Did the battery facility begin full commercial production, and at what level?
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the South Korean workers undocumented?
The public record does not support describing all 317 South Korean detainees as undocumented. U.S. authorities alleged unlawful employment and other immigration violations, but reports indicated that some workers entered with B-1/B-2 visas or ESTA. The key issue was whether their specific duties and payment arrangements were authorized under those statuses.
Was the operating Hyundai EV factory raided?
The operation targeted HL-GA Battery Company’s approximately 35-acre battery-cell plant under construction inside the larger Hyundai Metaplant America campus. It was not primarily a raid on Hyundai’s already-operating EV assembly building.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Were the workers deported?
Most of the South Korean detainees who returned to South Korea did so under a negotiated voluntary-departure or voluntary-return arrangement. Calling everyone on the charter flight deported could be legally inaccurate unless an individual’s formal removal record establishes that result.
Did the immigration operation shut down the battery plant?
No. Construction was paused and the opening was reportedly delayed by two to three months, but the project resumed. Local reporting in April 2026 said the facility was preparing to open after final production-process calibration.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The September 2025 operation was a federal search and immigration-enforcement action at a battery plant under construction, not proof that every detained worker was an undocumented criminal. The unresolved issue was whether individual engineers, installers and trainers stayed within the narrow limits of B-1 or ESTA business activities. South Korea objected to the treatment of its citizens and the potential damage to investment ties, negotiated the return of 316 nationals, and pushed for clearer visa rules. The plant ultimately continued toward opening after a delay, while the final legal and human-rights findings remained unresolved in the public record reviewed through August 10, 2026.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
