South Korea just negotiated the release of hundreds of its citizens detained in what became the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history—and it’s exposing major cracks in how foreign companies operate on American soil.

The raid hit a Hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery factory construction site near Savannah, Georgia, last Thursday, sweeping up 475 people. About 300 were South Korean nationals, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.

What the Deal Means

South Korea’s presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced Sunday that talks with the U.S. wrapped up successfully. The plan? Charter a plane to bring the detained South Koreans home once some paperwork gets sorted out.

But here’s where it gets complicated: Nobody’s saying whether these workers can leave voluntarily or face deportation. That distinction matters—deportation typically means you can’t return to the U.S. for years.

The State Department isn’t commenting on the negotiations, and as of Friday, no criminal charges had been filed.

Why This Raid Happened

U.S. border czar Tom Homan made it clear Sunday on CNN that workplace raids aren’t stopping anytime soon.

“You’re going to see a lot more worksite enforcement operations,” Homan said. “It’s a crime to knowingly hire an illegal alien.”

His reasoning? Employers hire undocumented workers to pay them less and undercut American workers’ wages.

According to U.S. authorities, those arrested had either:

  • Crossed the border illegally
  • Entered through visa waiver programs that banned them from working
  • Overstayed their visas

The search warrant, unsealed Friday, shows investigators initially targeted four Hispanic workers.

The Visa Problem

Here’s what went wrong: Many South Korean workers were using B-1 visas meant for training purposes, not actual work. They were there as instructors, according to a South Korean government official.

Neither Hyundai nor LG directly employed most of the detained workers. LG Energy confirmed 47 of its employees were arrested (46 South Koreans and one Indonesian), while about 250 worked for subcontracted companies.

The Fallout

This raid blindsided everyone. Seoul got zero advance warning from U.S. officials, leaving a close American ally scrambling to respond.

The immediate impact:

  • LG Energy halted most U.S. business trips
  • Korean employees in the U.S. were told to return home or stay put
  • Hyundai warned employees to be careful when traveling to America

Looking ahead, South Korea says it’ll work with companies to review visa statuses before sending workers to U.S. projects—basically admitting the current system failed.

Why This Matters Now

This raid hits at an awkward moment. Hyundai just pledged another $26 billion in U.S. investments after Trump took office. The Georgia site represents the state’s largest-ever manufacturing investment.

South Korea has been pouring money into American manufacturing lately, building facilities for semiconductors, EVs, batteries, and ships. Just last July, South Korea agreed to $350 billion in U.S. investments plus $100 billion in energy purchases as part of a tariff deal.

The timing couldn’t be worse for a diplomatic dust-up between allies who need each other economically.

What Happens Next

South Korea wants more work visas reserved specifically for its skilled workers coming to America. This raid might actually strengthen their case—or it could make U.S. officials dig in harder on enforcement.

Either way, this incident exposed how foreign companies trying to build in America are navigating a minefield of immigration rules that can blow up multibillion-dollar projects overnight.