A significant federal immigration operation, focusing on **unlawful employment**, unfolded at a Hyundai facility in Ellabell, Georgia, on September 4, 2025. The large-scale raid, dubbed “Operation Low Voltage,” resulted in the detention of 475 individuals suspected of living and working in the U.S. illegally. Federal authorities described this as the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Operation Low Voltage: Details of the Raid
The operation, which took place at a sprawling Hyundai facility in Bryan County, Georgia, involved multiple federal agencies. According to CBS News, the agencies included ICE, Border Patrol, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the IRS, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The facility, located approximately 25 miles west of Savannah, is where Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles and houses a battery plant under construction, a joint venture with LG Energy Solution, named HL-GA Battery Company.
Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama, led the announcement of the operation. The Washington Post reported that the raid was the culmination of a month-long investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other potential federal crimes.
The Arrests
Federal agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant at the Hyundai facility, specifically targeting the construction site of the new battery plant. Videos surfaced from inside the plant, showing armed Homeland Security agents executing the warrant and officers rounding up hundreds of workers, as reported by APT on YouTube. Those arrested were found to be working illegally, having allegedly entered the U.S. unlawfully, overstayed their visas, or violated visa waivers by working. No criminal charges were announced during the initial news conference.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that over 300 South Koreans were among the 475 people arrested, as mentioned by Sky News. The high number of South Korean nationals detained has created new tensions between Washington and Seoul.
The “Why” Behind the Immigration Sweep
The official justification for “Operation Low Voltage” centers on protecting American jobs and ensuring fair business practices. Steven Schrank stated, according to PBS, that the operation “underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy and protecting workers from exploitation.”
However, some view the raid within the context of a broader political agenda. Al Jazeera suggests that the raid is part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and mass deportation efforts.
Impact and Aftermath
International Relations and Corporate Response
The arrests have strained relations between the U.S. and South Korea. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern and demanded that the rights of its investors and citizens be respected, as reported by The Economic Times. This incident raises questions about the potential impact on future foreign investment in the U.S.
Hyundai and LG’s battery joint venture, HL-GA Battery Company, issued a statement, reported by InsideEVs, saying it is “cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities” and has paused construction of the battery site to assist with the investigation. Hyundai Motor Company clarified that none of those detained were directly employed by the company but rather by various subcontractors. The company stated, according to Car and Driver, that it would conduct an investigation to ensure all suppliers and subcontractors comply with laws and regulations. Operations at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing plant were not interrupted.
Detainee Status and Broader Implications
According to Fox News, most of the detainees were taken to an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia. The long-term consequences for these individuals remain uncertain, and the legal processes they will face are complex.
Critics of the operation argue that such raids destabilize communities and do not address the underlying issues within the immigration system. The American Immigration Council highlights that these types of enforcement actions often lead to fear and distrust within immigrant communities, without providing a sustainable solution to immigration challenges. CapRadio emphasizes that comprehensive immigration reform is needed to address the root causes of undocumented labor.
The events at the Hyundai facility underscore the complexities of immigration enforcement, its impact on international relations, and the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy in the United States. The long-term ramifications of “Operation Low Voltage” are yet to be fully understood, but it serves as a stark reminder of the human cost and economic implications of immigration enforcement policies.
