On the 5th (local time), Hyundai Motor Company's U.S. subsidiary stated that it is "thoroughly reviewing the employment practices of contractors and subcontractors" concerning the immigration enforcement that occurred at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia.
The U.S. subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company issued a statement that day, saying, "We are reviewing our processes to ensure that all stakeholders involved in the project maintain the same level of legal compliance standards as we do."
Hyundai stated, "We are doing our best to comply thoroughly with laws and regulations in all markets where we operate, including employment verification requirements and immigration law," adding that it expects the same level from all partners, including subcontractors.
It added, "Hyundai will apply a zero-tolerance principle to those who do not comply with the law," stating, "We will thoroughly adhere to U.S. laws as we invest in manufacturing in the U.S. and create thousands of jobs."
The day before, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Georgia State Patrol conducted a large-scale immigration enforcement operation at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant, resulting in the arrest of 475 individuals. It is estimated that about 300 of those arrested are Korean. Reports indicate that none of the detained individuals were directly employed by Hyundai.