What we found
A leaked internal document from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicates that at least one South Korean contractor detained in the September 4 worksite raid at Hyundai’s Ellabell, Georgia battery project held a valid B1/B2 visa and, according to the agent’s notes, had not violated it. Yet he was processed for “voluntary departure.” That contradicts public statements that all ~475 detainees were violating immigration law.
Why it matters
- Rule-of-law and due process: Detaining a documented worker risks unlawful imprisonment claims and will invite court scrutiny of ICE procedures.
- Allied supply chains: The Hyundai–LG Energy project is part of a multi‑billion‑dollar allied manufacturing build‑out. Blunt worksite tactics can slow factory commissioning and undermine U.S. industrial policy goals.
- Diplomacy: Seoul dispatched a chartered Korean Air 747‑8i to repatriate hundreds; it is also seeking a streamlined U.S. visa path for short‑term specialists so projects aren’t starved of expertise.
Follow the money
Every week of delay on a giga‑project carries seven‑figure costs across contractors and financing. “Voluntary departures” minimize re‑entry bans, but still force companies to backfill scarce skills fast, at premium rates.
What to watch
- Whether DHS publicly reconciles the leaked memo with its statements.
- Movement in Congress or agencies toward an allied‑specialist visa (and whether Koreans get a tailored track).
- Follow‑on audits and raids at other EV/battery sites and whether documented visitors are again swept up.