LG Energy Says U.S. Battery Plant Construction Continues After Immigration Raid Detained Hundreds Of Workers At Georgia Site

LG Energy Solution said Tuesday it has not halted construction of its U.S. battery plants despite a September 4th immigration raid that temporarily detained hundreds of workers, according to The Wall Street Journal. Bob Lee, the company’s North America chief, told reporters in Detroit that LG is working to ensure customer commitments remain unaffected. Lee’s remarks followed a massive U.S. immigration raid at an LG-Hyundai battery plant in Georgia that Hyundai’s CEO said would delay construction by up to three months. The raid at the site jointly owned with Hyundai detained 475 workers, including over 300 Koreans, with 316 later flown home. The raid highlighted challenges Korean companies face in securing U.S. authorization for skilled workers needed to build new manufacturing plants. Hyundai CEO José Muñoz estimated the disruption would delay construction by up to three months.