Sen. Sonya Halpern Calls on Governor Kemp for Transparency on Hyundai EV Battery Plant Raid and Georgia’s Economic Future

ATLANTA (September 10, 2025) - Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta) has sent a letter to Governor Brian P. Kemp, urging him to be transparent with Georgians about the impact of last week's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at Hyundai's EV and battery facility in Ellabell. Nearly 500 workers were detained as part of the raid, including many who were in Georgia legally on business visas or through the Visa Waiver Program to install and oversee critical equipment at the site.

"The Hyundai-LG battery facility represents the largest industrial project in our state's history, with 8,500 promised jobs and billions of dollars in investment," said Sen. Halpern. "But with construction and ramp-up now disrupted, local businesses and communities that invested in schools, roads and housing are left in limbo. Georgians deserve answers."

In her letter, Sen. Halpern called on Governor Kemp to provide:

1. The status of the detained workers, including how many have been released or repatriated, how many were working illegally and what this means for plant operations.
2. Support for international companies, ensuring Korean and other investors understand and can comply with federal visa and immigration processes.
3. Assurances to international investors that Georgia remains a safe and reliable place to do business, so that future projects are not put at risk.

South Korea is Georgia's third-largest trading partner, and the raid has drawn sharp criticism from Korean officials and community leaders, who have described it as a betrayal of trust.

"Partnership also requires accountability," Sen. Halpern added. "If there were violations of the law, they must be addressed in a way that protects both Georgia's integrity and our economic future."

Sen. Halpern further stressed that with billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs on the line, Georgia must demonstrate leadership and clarity.

"Governor Kemp owes Georgians transparency," she said. "What is the plan? How are we protecting our state's reputation as a reliable partner? And when can communities counting on these jobs expect operations to resume?"

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Sen. Sonya Halpern serves as Democratic Caucus Vice Chair. She represents the 39th ​Senate District, which includes a portion of Fulton County. She may be reached at (494) 656-9644 or via email at [email protected]

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