U.S. immigration authorities detained approximately 450 undocumented immigrants during a significant raid at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Georgia on Thursday. This operation is considered one of the largest immigration enforcement actions at a single site in the history of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The raid took place at the expansive site where Hyundai produces electric vehicles in Bryan County, southeast Georgia. The operation also halted construction on a nearby factory intended for electric vehicle battery production. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced on social media that it participated in the enforcement action alongside ICE, the FBI, and other agencies, emphasizing their commitment to community safety.

Lindsay Williams, a spokesman for ICE, confirmed that federal agents were executing a search warrant at the 3,000-acre site, focusing on the construction area for the battery plant. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the operation was part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal offenses.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry expressed concerns about the impact of U.S. law enforcement on Korean investments and citizens. They stated, "The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement operations." The ministry is sending officials from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the Consulate General in Atlanta to the site to monitor the situation.

Georgia State Patrol troopers were deployed to assist federal authorities, blocking access to the Hyundai site. Video footage from the scene showed a man in tactical gear informing workers that they were from Homeland Security and had a search warrant for the entire site. He instructed them to cease all construction activities immediately.

This raid is part of a broader trend of increased ICE operations under the Trump administration, which has focused on mass deportation efforts. The Pew Research Center reported that the U.S. labor force lost over 1.2 million immigrants from January to July, including both undocumented individuals and legal residents.

Hyundai's plant, which began manufacturing electric vehicles a year ago, is a significant economic development project in Georgia, employing around 1,200 workers. The company is also collaborating with LG Energy Solution to establish the battery plant, which is expected to open next year. Hyundai stated that they are cooperating with authorities and have paused construction to assist in the investigation. However, operations at the electric vehicle manufacturing plant continued without interruption, according to plant spokesperson Bianca Johnson.