Hyundai Georgia ICE Raid and South Korean Workers

Over 300 South Korean citizens detained in the United States have returned home after a five-day detention.This followed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on a Hyundai facility in Georgia.

Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles (EVs) at this plant and plans to produce EV batteries with LG Energy Solution. The joint project, dubbed ‘Metaplant,’ aimed to open its battery factory in 2026, but work has stalled due to the raid.

President donald Trump reportedly paused the repatriation process to determine if the employees wished to stay in the US to train American workers. This delayed their return by one day.

south Korean companies currently control 40 percent of US battery cell production capacity, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). That share is projected to exceed 50 percent by 2030.

The incident highlights vulnerabilities within global EV supply chains. Europe’s EV market appears less susceptible to US disruptions. Automakers generally assemble vehicles and source components near their final markets.

Most EVs sold in Europe are built locally, including both the vehicles and their batteries. A 2024 market analysis report confirms this trend.