The South Korean government has announced that it has successfully concluded negotiations with the United States regarding the release of its citizens detained during a significant immigration raid at a Hyundai plant located in Georgia. According to the chief of staff for South Korea's president, a chartered plane is set to be dispatched to bring the detainees back home, pending the completion of administrative procedures.
In a sweeping operation, US officials detained a total of 475 individuals, with over 300 of them identified as South Korean nationals. The authorities stated that these individuals were found to be working illegally at the battery facility, which is recognized as one of the largest foreign investment projects in the state of Georgia. This immigration raid has raised significant concerns about the future of foreign investment in the region.
The White House has defended the immigration enforcement action, dismissing fears that such raids could deter foreign investment in the United States. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, asserting that the detained individuals were illegal aliens and that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was simply fulfilling its obligations. Video footage released by ICE showed Asian workers in restraints outside the facility, with some wearing yellow vests emblazoned with the names of companies like Hyundai and LG CNS.
ICE officials clarified that individuals on short-term or recreational visas are not permitted to work in the US. They emphasized that the raid was necessary to protect American jobs. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Steven Schrank stated, "This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable."
South Korea, a vital ally of the United States, has committed to investing tens of billions of dollars in American manufacturing. This investment is partly aimed at counterbalancing tariffs imposed on South Korean goods. The timing of the raid has raised concerns in Seoul, especially as the two nations are engaged in sensitive trade discussions. Trump has been known to encourage substantial investments from foreign entities while simultaneously tightening visa allocations for these companies.
LG Energy Solution, which operates the Hyundai plant, reported that many of the arrested employees were on business trips with appropriate visas or were part of a visa waiver program. In response to the raid, the company announced it would temporarily suspend most business trips to the US and has instructed employees on assignment in the country to return home immediately.
South Korean media outlets have widely described the immigration raid as a shocking event, with the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper warning that it could have a chilling effect on the operations of South Korean businesses in the United States. The Georgia factory, which specializes in manufacturing new electric vehicles, has been touted by the state's Republican governor as the most significant economic development project in Georgia's history, employing around 1,200 individuals.
The detained workers are currently being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia. According to LG Energy Solution, 47 of its employees and approximately 250 contractors working at the joint venture factory have been detained. The situation continues to evolve as both governments navigate the complexities of immigration law and international investments.
