President Donald Trump put foreign companies doing business on U.S. soil on notice after federal agents carried out the largest immigration raid in American history.
Authorities confirmed that 475 workers were taken into custody during the Homeland Security sweep at a Hyundai battery facility in Georgia.
Officials said most of those detained were South Korean nationals suspected of living and working in the country illegally. The raid accounted for almost half of the plant’s 1,200-person workforce.
Dramatic footage captured lines of workers escorted outside by armed agents, with many ordered to stand against buses as they were frisked and shackled at the wrists, ankles, and waist.
ICE released video of Korean workers in Georgia’s Hyundai/ LG plant being rounded up. Stunning to say the least. pic.twitter.com/79BJQEGn2d
— Jake Kwon (@therealjakekwon) September 6, 2025
Dozens were seen sitting in rows on a nearby grassy patch while under the watch of federal officers.
In a Sunday night post to Truth Social, Trump made it clear that foreign businesses needed to follow U.S. law if they wanted to operate inside America’s borders.
“Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws,” Trump declared.
“Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products.”
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump sends a message to foreign companies in the U.S. after ICE arrested 450 illegals at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia
“I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation's Immigration Laws.” pic.twitter.com/u2atmt2val
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 8, 2025
The president added that his administration would work to streamline legal pathways for companies to bring in talent, but he made one demand in return.
“What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers,” he detailed.
“Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before.”
Reporters pressed Trump about the fallout after he landed at Joint Base Andrews, returning from the U.S. Open in New York.
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Trump insisted that ties with South Korea remained strong despite the arrests, though he stressed the need for American workers to be trained in high-demand industries.
“When they’re building batteries, if you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries,” he remarked.
“Maybe we should help them along and let some people come in and train our people to do, you know, complex things.
Trump on the Hyundai raid: If you don't have people in this country right now that know about batteries maybe we should help them along and let people come in and train our people to do complex things
ICE was doing it because they were here illegally but we have to work… pic.twitter.com/aMEHwzYr68
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 7, 2025
“Whether it’s battery manufacturing or computer manufacturing or building ships,” Trump said. “So we’re going to look at that whole situation.”
He explained that his plan would allow experts to enter temporarily to train Americans before returning home.
Trump defended ICE’s handling of the raid, calling it “right,” because the detained workers had been living in the U.S. illegally.
“But we do have to work something out where we bring in experts so that our people can be trained so that they can do it themselves. Does that make sense?”
The president pointed out that Washington maintained a “great” relationship with Seoul, though he acknowledged the frustration from South Korean officials.
He noted, “I’m going to look at it because I understand exactly what they’re saying.”
South Korea quickly pushed for the release of its citizens. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, defended that both governments had reached an agreement to return roughly 300 of the detained workers.
He said a charter plane would soon fly them back home once paperwork was finalized.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry added that talks were ongoing to allow all detainees to leave voluntarily.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun was scheduled to travel to the United States Monday for further negotiations.
While the Trump administration has staged numerous workplace raids, Thursday’s enforcement stood out for both its scale and location.
The Hyundai plant was previously hailed as Georgia’s most significant economic development project, fueling outrage overseas and shock among local officials.
In July, South Korea struck a major deal with Washington that included a pledge to purchase $100 billion in U.S. energy products and invest $350 billion in America in exchange for lower tariff rates.
The sudden arrests left many in Seoul questioning the impact on that agreement.
Video released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the weekend showed convoys of federal vehicles arriving at the site as agents fanned out across the facility.
Workers were ordered into lines and escorted outside under armed guard before being bused away.
Officials noted that many of those apprehended either crossed the border illegally or overstayed their work visas.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia, said the raid stemmed from months of investigative work.
He described it as the largest single-site enforcement action ever undertaken by Homeland Security Investigations.
“This 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,” Schrank said.
Authorities confirmed that the detainees would be transferred to an ICE holding facility in Folkston, Georgia, near the state’s southern border.
None have been charged with crimes at this time, but officials stressed that their cases would be evaluated individually.
“They will be moved based on their individual circumstances beyond that,” Schrank explained.
