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Battery manufacturing engineers return to Hyundai-LG site in bitter epilogue
Hyundai-LG's $7.6bn Georgia battery plant sees detained workers return amid lawsuits
Two months after the largest immigration enforcement operation in American history convulsed a sprawling battery plant in rural Georgia, some of the detained South Korean engineers are trickling back to the worksite that became the centre of an international incident. By mid-November, approximately 50 engineers had re-entered the United States, their business visas restored without reapplication. More than 100 of the 317 South Korean nationals detained in the 4 September raid have now had their B-1 visas reinstated, according to representatives for the workers.
The phased return signals a cautious restoration of construction activity at the HL-GA Battery facility in Ellabell, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution valued at $7.6bn ($8.1bn). Yet the resumption is anything but triumphant. It follows weeks of detention, diplomatic wrangling, and a rupture in trust that continues to shape investment decisions across South Korea's industrial sector.
Construction had been indefinitely suspended following the raid, which saw 475 individuals detained at the site. Federal authorities described it as necessary enforcement of immigration law. Many of the workers, however, were brought to Georgia specifically to install highly technical production equipment and train American personnel in battery cell manufacturing processes that remain scarce domestically. The tension between those objectives and the enforcement action has exposed deeper contradictions in America's approach to industrial policy.
According to LG Energy Solution, construction and business travel have resumed, with employees travelling to HL-GA and other US production facilities "with plans to expand the business travel gradually." The battery plant, when complete, will supply cells for electric vehicles (EVs) produced at Hyundai's adjacent Metaplant America assembly complex, which remains operational and unaffected by the enforcement action.
Legal reckoning takes shape
Nearly 200 of the detained South Korean nationals are preparing to file a lawsuit against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging unlawful detention, racial profiling, human rights violations and excessive force. The legal action, confirmed by attorneys representing the plaintiffs, stems from the treatment the battery cell manufacturing experts endured during and after the raid.
One engineer, identified only as Mr Kim, described the experience in testimony to American media. Workers' phones were confiscated, and they were shackled around the wrists, ankles and chest before being transported to a detention facility in Folkston, Georgia. Some tripped and fell whilst being loaded onto buses, unable to walk properly in restraints. The workers spent seven days in detention before South Korea's government negotiated their release and arranged charter flights home.
The lawsuit claims the workers were treated as dangerous fugitives despite arriving in the United States under what they believed to be lawful business visas. Attorneys argue that the restoration of B-1 visas without requiring reapplication demonstrates the workers were lawfully present, contradicting the basis for their detention. Companies employing the detained workers, including LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Engineering, have stated they are not involved in the matter, describing the lawsuit as being pursued on an individual basis. The legal proceedings are likely to stretch well into 2026, with broader implications for how immigration enforcement intersects with foreign investment in American manufacturing. The plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation for damages, though the precise amount has not been disclosed.
The Hyundai-LG episode has laid bare a structural contradiction within the North American vehicle production revival.
Diplomatic fallout continues to reverberate
The detention and subsequent deportation of more than 300 South Korean nationals sparked outrage in Seoul, where many viewed the incident as a betrayal by a key ally. South Korea has pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in American investments, much of it concentrated in advanced manufacturing sectors including semiconductors, batteries and EVs. The sight of skilled engineers shackled and detained sent a chilling message through boardrooms in Seoul and beyond.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung raised the issue directly with US President Donald Trump during bilateral meetings in October, describing the incident as causing severe trauma amongst workers. Lee told reporters that some workers no longer wish to return to the United States, and warned that without measures to ensure safety and rational treatment, factory construction projects across America could face disruptions.
Trump, for his part, acknowledged the complexity of the situation. In comments following his meeting with President Lee, Trump noted that foreign companies building advanced manufacturing facilities in the US often need to bring in experts, at least during the initial phase. He suggested his administration would work to resolve visa issues whilst maintaining enforcement priorities. Ahead of their meeting, Lee told Bloomberg News he expected a solution "in the not-too-distant future," though specifics remain vague.
The diplomatic tension has already influenced investment behaviour. According to reports from The Washington Post, several South Korean firms have pulled back or prolonged pauses on US investment projects following the Hyundai raid. Three individuals representing South Korean and East Asian firms in America confirmed that companies remain cautious despite reassurances from the Trump administration.
Manufacturing at the mercy of immigration policy
The Hyundai-LG episode has laid bare a structural contradiction within the North American vehicle production revival. Policymakers champion reshoring and domestic manufacturing capacity, particularly in strategic sectors like battery production. Yet the specialised nature of this work means that many facilities initially depend on foreign expertise to commission equipment, establish quality systems and transfer knowledge to American teams.
Battery cell production remains one of the most technically demanding segments of automotive manufacturing. It requires precision engineering, stringent contamination controls and process knowledge accumulated over decades, much of it concentrated in South Korea, China and Japan. American workers are being trained, but that training requires instructors with operational experience. The detained engineers were performing precisely that function.
Federal immigration authorities have insisted the enforcement action was lawful and necessary. Steve Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia and Alabama, stated that individuals entering on short-term or recreational visas are prohibited from engaging in employment. He described the operation as protecting American labour standards.
Yet the outcome has been paradoxical. Construction halted, training stopped, and US workers waiting to assume those roles found themselves sidelined. Hyundai has since resumed limited international travel for technical teams, but the chilling effect persists. Companies must now weigh the benefits of American vehicle production against enforcement risks that can materialise without warning.
The incident also raises questions about how the US intends to compete in industries where expertise remains globally distributed. Hyundai Motor Group has pledged $26bn in American investments through 2028, with much of that capital directed towards vehicle production, battery manufacturing and supply chain localisation. Those plans assume the ability to move technical personnel across borders as construction and commissioning activities require.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, whose state has become a focal point for EV investment, has called for changes to the visa system to prevent similar disruptions. He argues that clarity and consistency are essential to maintaining investor confidence. Yet federal immigration policy remains a moving target, with White House border adviser Tom Homan promising more worksite enforcement operations following the Hyundai-LG raid.
Hyundai has stated that the Georgia plant is now scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2026, a timeline that assumes continued access to foreign technical expertise during the ramp-up phase. Whether that assumption holds depends on political decisions far removed from the factory floor. For now, the returning engineers are back at work, rebuilding production lines in a state where their presence remains contested.
