The Journal. — "The Hyundai Plant Raided By Immigration Authorities"

Hosts: Jessica Mendoza, Ryan Knutson
Date: September 8, 2025
Podcast by: The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Overview

This episode explores the recent, unprecedented immigration raid at Hyundai's massive manufacturing complex in rural Georgia—an event that became the largest single-site workplace raid in recent U.S. history. The hosts and WSJ reporter Ryan Felton discuss how the incident exposes tensions at the heart of Trump administration policies: the drive to reshore manufacturing versus aggressive crackdowns on undocumented labor. The episode examines the details of the raid, the corporate and political fallout, community tensions, and what the event could signal for foreign investment and American industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Hyundai Georgia Mega-Plant: Symbol of Modern Manufacturing

• Description of the plant
  • 3,000-acre facility outside Savannah, Georgia—a joint venture by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solutions.
  • Described as “a sprawling complex ... almost like a city within a city” (Ryan Felton, 00:13).
  • Construction started in 2022; plant now produces cars and is being expanded to include an EV battery facility.
  • Ambition: 8,500 jobs and capacity for 500,000 vehicles/year (Jessica Mendoza, 05:10).
• State and corporate incentives
  • Georgia government provided big tax breaks to attract Hyundai, hoping for jobs and economic revitalization, especially in the South, traditionally a manufacturing hub (Ryan Felton, 04:52).

The Raid: Timeline and Execution

• Details of the raid
  • On Thursday, DHS, ICE, FBI, and Georgia State Patrol raided the site, initially acting on a warrant for four workers suspected of immigration violations (Ryan Felton, 07:02).
  • The operation rapidly expanded, targeting and arresting nearly 500 workers in a single day—marking it the largest such raid at one site in U.S. history (Jessica Mendoza, 00:55).
  • Agents separated workers by nationality; many endured hot outdoor conditions for hours (Ryan Felton, 07:02).
  • Some workers attempted to escape or hide, with several jumping into a sewage pond and being chased by officials in a boat (Jessica Mendoza, 07:47).

Who Was Detained and Why

• Demographics of detainees
  • Out of 475 detained workers, 300 were South Korean nationals (Ryan Felton, 08:01).
  • Companies claimed none were direct Hyundai employees; LG acknowledged some were employed by them or by contractors (Ryan Felton, 08:01).
• Nature of employment
  • Many roles in such mega-projects are staffed by subcontractors; unclear exactly which jobs the detainees held (Ryan Felton, 08:28).
• Violations cited
  • Charges related to illegal border crossing, overstaying visas, or working in violation of visa waiver restrictions (Federal press conference, summarized by Jessica Mendoza, 08:49).

Local and Political Fallout

• Local tensions
  • Complaints by unions and local politicians about “undocumented workers” and perceived displacement of American labor (Jessica Mendoza, 06:21).
  • A candidate for Congress reportedly alerted DHS about the workers (Jessica Mendoza, 06:21).
• Republican framing
  • Plant touted as proof that “it's possible to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.” (Jessica Mendoza, 05:10), part of President Trump’s political narrative.
  • Trump described the investment as evidence of successful tariffs and trade policy (Ryan Felton quoting Trump, 06:03).
    • Quote: “Tariffs very strongly work, and I hope.” — President Trump (Jessica Mendoza, 06:06)

Broader Industry and International Implications

• Concerns for Foreign Investors
  • Worry among non-U.S. companies: “Are we vulnerable to this type of thing? Are we able to do business the way we've always done business?” (Ryan Felton, 11:49)
  • Foreign firms often use their own nationals for technical setup, especially with sensitive technology (Ryan Felton, 11:49).
• Trump administration stance
  • Trump insisted the raid was not a broad attack on foreign manufacturers, but enforcement of labor and immigration laws at a single site (Ryan Felton, 12:16).
    • Quote: “They were illegal aliens, and ICE was just doing its job.” — President Trump (Ryan Felton, 12:46)
  • Public statements welcoming foreign investment if companies “hire and train American workers” (Jessica Mendoza, 12:52).

The Diplomatic Resolution

• South Korean response
  • South Korean government negotiated release and voluntary repatriation for the roughly 300 detained South Koreans; planned to charter a plane for their return (Jessica Mendoza, 15:17).
• Attempt to minimize rift
  • Both U.S. and Korean officials emphasized a continued strong relationship despite the high-profile incident (Ryan Felton, 13:13-15:12).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Contrasting the plant with its rural surroundings:
  • “Once you get outside the plant, it’s, you know, there’s some dirt roads … a gas station, pizza place, combo, a Dollar General. But then the plant is very big. Freshly paved roads, new landscaping, really modern. So it’s quite a contrast.” — Ryan Felton (03:29)
• On the raid procedure:
  • “They had a warrant … for four workers … When the immigration officials got on site, they separated people by nationality.” — Ryan Felton (07:02)
• On President Trump’s policy balancing act:
  • “This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans.” — Federal official, paraphrased by Ryan Felton (09:06)
• On broader business fears:
  • “Are we able to do business the way we've always done business?” — Ryan Felton (11:49)
• Resolution for South Korean workers:
  • “A Korean diplomat in Washington said the country is chartering a plane and hopes the detained workers can return to South Korea on Wednesday.” — Jessica Mendoza (15:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05–01:14 — Introduction to the Hyundai plant and background on the Georgia facility
• 01:39–02:18 — Fears within the U.S. manufacturing sector about more workplace raids
• 03:21–04:31 — Description of the rural setting and the plant’s industrial ambitions
• 05:10–06:21 — Job creation goals, political narratives, and local tensions
• 07:02–08:49 — Step-by-step account of the raid, separation and detention of workers
• 09:31–10:56 — Significance for U.S. manufacturing and the Trump administration’s economic plans
• 11:12–13:13 — Broader industry concerns about ongoing foreign investment in the U.S.
• 13:34–15:17 — Diplomatic aftermath, statements from both governments, planned repatriation

Episode Tone & Style

The tone is factual and analytical, with a sense of urgency and significance. The hosts and reporter foreground the human impact, corporate maneuvering, and complex political context—maintaining tight focus on facts, implications, and expert analysis.

Conclusion

This episode provides a detailed, on-the-ground account of the largest immigration raid at a U.S. workplace, using the Hyundai Georgia facility as a lens to examine the friction points in American economic, political, and immigration policy. It underlines the uncertainty felt by foreign investors and the nuanced diplomatic steps taken to mitigate fallout, all while highlighting ongoing debates over who benefits from the resurgence of American manufacturing.