ICE Workplace Raids and Mass Arrests at Job Sites
ICE conducted at least 40 workplace raids with over 1,100 arrests in seven months, including the largest single-site raid in DHS history at a Hyundai plant in Georgia (475 arrests). The raids triggered diplomatic incidents and devastated communities dependent on immigrant labor.
The Trump administration resumed large-scale workplace immigration raids, conducting at least 40 publicly reported operations resulting in over 1,100 arrests in the first seven months. The largest single-site raid in DHS history occurred at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia on September 4, 2025, with 475 arrests -- over 300 of them South Korean nationals -- triggering a diplomatic incident. Raids targeted restaurants, meatpacking plants, food warehouses, and construction sites.
Executive summary
What this record documents
- At least 40 publicly reported ICE worksite enforcement actions in the first seven months of the administration, resulting in over 1,100 arrests.
- The Hyundai Metaplant raid in Ellabell, Georgia (September 4, 2025) was the largest single-site immigration raid in DHS history, with 475 arrests.
- Over 300 South Korean nationals were among those arrested at the Hyundai plant, triggering a diplomatic dispute between the US and South Korea.
- A meatpacking plant in Omaha, Nebraska saw 76 worker arrests; Nation Pizza in Illinois laid off 500 workers.
- Raids targeted industries with high concentrations of immigrant workers: restaurants, meatpacking, construction, food warehouses, car washes, and nail salons.
Timeline
Sequence of events
May 1, 2025
ICE resumes worksite raids
ICE publicly confirms the resumption of large-scale worksite immigration enforcement operations across the country.
May 15, 2025
Buona Forchetta restaurant raid
ICE executed a search warrant at Buona Forchetta, an Italian restaurant in San Diego, arresting 4 workers.
June 13, 2025
CNN documents Home Depot and other business impacts
CNN reports on the toll workplace raids are taking on American businesses and workers, including supply chain disruptions.
September 4, 2025
Largest single-site raid in DHS history: Hyundai Georgia
475 people arrested at the Hyundai Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia, including over 300 South Korean nationals. The FBI, DEA, ATF, and Georgia State Patrol participated alongside ICE.
October 6, 2025
Chicago food warehouses under constant threat
Investigate Midwest documents how the threat of ICE raids shadows every shift in Chicago's food warehouses, with workers living in constant fear.
February 1, 2026
$170 billion enforcement funding approved
Under a July spending package approved by Congress, ICE and Border Patrol are set to receive an extra $170 billion through 2029, with an increased focus on workplace raids.
Analysis
Reporting, legal context, and impact
What Happened
The Trump administration resumed large-scale workplace immigration raids in 2025, conducting at least 40 publicly reported operations in the first seven months that resulted in over 1,100 arrests. The raids targeted industries with high concentrations of immigrant workers -- restaurants, meatpacking plants, food warehouses, construction sites, car washes, and nail salons.
The Hyundai Metaplant Raid
The largest single-site immigration enforcement operation in DHS history took place on September 4, 2025 at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, an electric vehicle production facility under construction in Ellabell, Bryan County, Georgia.
Hundreds of federal and state officers -- including ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, and Georgia State Patrol -- descended on the construction site and arrested 475 people. Over 300 were South Korean nationals. Others included 23 Mexican nationals, 3 Japanese nationals, 10 Chinese nationals, and 1 Indonesian national. Those arrested were suspected of various immigration violations: some had entered illegally, some had visa waivers prohibiting work, and some had overstayed their visas.
The raid triggered a diplomatic dispute between the United States and South Korea, with South Korea's Foreign Minister expressing concern about the treatment of detained nationals. Japan's Foreign Ministry also raised the issue of its detained citizens.
Other Significant Raids
- Meatpacking plant, Omaha, Nebraska: At least 76 workers arrested
- Buona Forchetta restaurant, San Diego: 4 workers arrested in a warrant-based raid
- Nation Pizza (DiGiorno/Nestle), suburban Chicago: Over 500 workers laid off following enforcement action
Community Impact
The American Immigration Council documented the fallout from workplace raids, noting that they devastate not only the arrested workers but entire communities. Children come home to find parents missing. Businesses lose critical workforce. Fear of raids chills economic activity in immigrant-heavy industries.
In Chicago, Investigate Midwest documented how the constant threat of ICE raids "shadows every shift" in food warehouses, with workers living in perpetual fear and employers struggling to maintain operations.
Why This Entry Is Rated Severe
- Largest single-site raid in DHS history: 475 people arrested in one operation
- Diplomatic incidents: Arrests of hundreds of South Korean, Japanese, and Chinese nationals created international friction
- Scale: Over 1,100 arrests in 40+ operations in seven months
- Community devastation: Families separated, children orphaned from parents, businesses shuttered
- Massive funding escalation: $170 billion allocated for enforcement expansion through 2029
- Targeting of vulnerable workers: Raids focus on industries where workers have the least bargaining power
Linked reporting
Reporting and secondary sources
Understanding ICE Raids at American Workplaces
Massive immigration raid at Hyundai megaplant in Georgia leads to 475 arrests
475 people detained in Georgia Hyundai raid by ICE
ICE workplace raids are taking a toll on America's businesses and workers
Threat of ICE raids shadows every shift in Chicago's food warehouses
2025 Georgia Hyundai plant immigration raid
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