US federal authorities have detained more than 475 undocumented workers, most of them South Korean nationals, during a large-scale raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant site in Georgia.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia confirmed that the operation was conducted earlier this week at the 3,000-acre facility west of Savannah. “Over the course of the day, federal, state, and local law enforcement identified hundreds of illegal workers,” the office said in a statement.

US Attorney Margaret Heap stressed that the crackdown aimed to “reduce illegal employment and prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage” while protecting unauthorized workers from exploitation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Steven Schrank added that the detainees had entered the US through various means, including visa overstays and waiver program violations.

The raid followed several months of investigation into subcontractors supplying labor to the plant. Workers were reportedly employed by multiple companies tied to the Hyundai project.

ICE spokesman Lindsay Williams confirmed that the raid was part of a broader enforcement effort. US media noted the operation highlighted tensions between President Donald Trump’s dual goals of boosting American manufacturing and enforcing strict immigration laws.

The arrests have also sparked diplomatic friction. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed “concerns and regret” over the incident, urging the US to safeguard the rights of its citizens. Spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said Seoul has conveyed its position through the US Embassy, stressing that “economic activities of our companies and the interests of our nationals must not be unduly violated.”

The large-scale detentions mark one of the most significant immigration enforcement actions in recent US history, raising questions about its potential impact on both US-South Korea relations and ongoing industrial projects.