A major immigration raid at a Hyundai facility in Georgia will push back its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the delay after hundreds of foreign workers were detained.
raid strains us-south korea relations
The raid has sparked tension between Washington and Seoul. A large number of the detained workers were South Korean nationals. President Yoon warned the incident could undermine foreign investment in the United States.
South Korean officials said many workers were dispatched temporarily to support the launch of the new factory. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American media the raid would delay operations by two to three months because many workers now plan to return home.
largest immigration raid in american history
The Georgia raid became the biggest immigration sweep in US history. Authorities detained 475 people, including about 300 South Koreans. US immigration officials said the workers lacked authorization to work in the country. South Korean officials countered that sending staff abroad to help establish plants is a common business practice.
Officials in Seoul confirmed that the detained workers are scheduled to fly back on Friday. Their flight had originally been booked for Wednesday but was postponed. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung said Donald Trump suggested the workers remain in the United States to continue training locals. Only one accepted the proposal.
hyundai looks to fill vacancies
José Muñoz said Hyundai is considering options to replace the workers who plan to return to South Korea. The company emphasized that none of those arrested were directly employed by Hyundai.
LG Energy Solution, which runs the Georgia battery site with Hyundai, stated that many detained employees held various visas or entered through the visa waiver programme.
investment pledges in doubt
At a press conference on Thursday, President Yoon said such measures could complicate factory construction in the United States. He added that tighter restrictions might cause companies to reconsider major investments.
The raid has cast doubt on a trade agreement sealed earlier this year. Donald Trump pledged to ease tariff threats in return for billions of dollars in promised investments from South Korea.
Hyundai alone committed $26 billion, including a steel plant in Louisiana. Trump praised the project as part of his plan to revive US manufacturing through foreign investment.
georgia project seen as historic
The raided factory belongs to a large industrial complex in Georgia. The project is expected to create 8,500 jobs and has been promoted as the most significant economic development in the state’s history.
