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President Donald Trump has reacted to a large-scale immigration raid at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of people.
Some shit you should know before you read: Last week, US immigration authorities carried out a massive worksite raid at a Hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia, near Savannah. The operation, described as the largest single-location immigration enforcement action in US history, resulted in the detention of 475 individuals, the majority of whom were South Korean nationals. The workers, many employed by subcontractors, were reportedly involved in installing production lines and supporting construction activities at the site. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said the individuals were found to be living or working in the US illegally, often on short-term visas or under visa waiver programs that do not permit employment.
What’s going on now: In response to the raid, President Trump took to Truth Social and defended the raid while simultaneously stressing his support for foreign investment in the United States. “Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” Trump wrote. He reiterated the importance of companies hiring and training American workers, adding, “Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before.”
Speaking to reporters after returning from the US Open, Trump said, “They came through illegally. They came into our country. So we have to do our job,” but also acknowledged the need for technical experts to enter temporarily to help train American workers, noting, “The way you train people is to bring people in that can do the training and let them stay for a little while and help.”
The Department of Homeland Security echoed Trump’s stance, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Steven Schrank stating, “This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable.” ICE officials added that individuals on tourist or short-term business visas are not authorized to work in the US, and the operation was conducted to protect American jobs.
The raid prompted a reaction from South Korea, with President Lee Jae Myung calling the situation an “emergency” and announcing plans to send a chartered flight to repatriate the detained South Korean citizens. He also stressed the importance of improving visa systems to prevent future incidents. South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun planned a trip to the US to engage in direct talks with American officials.
A spokesperson from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry stated, “The economic activities of our investment companies and the rights and interests of our citizens must not be unjustly violated during US law enforcement proceedings.” South Korean media outlets also described the raid as a “shock,” warning it could chill future investments in the United States.
Hyundai Motor Group stated that none of its direct employees were detained in the raid. LG confirmed that 47 of its employees were among those arrested and added that many had been in the US on business trips using various visa types or under the visa waiver program. In the wake of the incident, LG Energy Solution suspended most business travel to the US and advised current employees to return home or stay indoors.
The plant at the center of the controversy is part of a major electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility, representing one of Georgia’s largest-ever economic development projects. With an initial investment valued at over $4.3 billion, the site was expected to create at least 1,200 jobs and play a key role in the US push toward electric vehicle infrastructure.
