South Koreans detained in ICE raid at Hyundai electric vehicle site in Georgia

US immigration authorities have raided a massive Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia, leading to the arrest of over 450 people, according to one of the agencies involved in the operation.

The 3,000-acre site, which was built by the Korean automobile manufacturer to make electric vehicles, had been operational for a year.

The Department of Homeland Security told the BBC's US partner CBS News that agents executed a search warrant due to allegations of "unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes".

Korean nationals were among those detained, the South Korean foreign ministry said, calling it an "unjust infringement" of their rights.

In a post on X, the Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it joined a number of other agencies including ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to arrest 450 "unlawful aliens" at the plant in Bryan County.

It is unclear how many South Koreans were detained.

"The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during US law enforcement operations," the foreign ministry statement said.