The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is seen on March 26, 2025, in Ellabell, Georgia. — File picture by Related Press
WASHINGTON, United States — South Koreans suspected of working in america illegally had been the vast majority of 475 folks arrested in a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant being constructed within the southern state of Georgia, a US official mentioned Friday.
Steven Schrank, a Homeland Safety Investigations particular agent in Atlanta, mentioned the operation was the biggest single website raid carried out as far as a part of President Donald Trump’s nationwide anti-migrant drive.
Thursday’s raid stemmed from a “prison investigation into allegations of illegal employment practices and severe federal crimes” on the Hyundai Motor-LG Power Resolution three way partnership plant within the city of Ellabell, Schrank instructed reporters.
“This was not an immigration operation the place brokers went into the premises, rounded up of us and put them on buses,” he mentioned. “This has been a multi-month prison investigation.”
Requested by reporters on the White Home concerning the raid, Trump mentioned: “I might say that they had been unlawful aliens, and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was simply doing its job.”
South Korea expressed “concern and remorse” over the raid, and urged Washington to respect the rights of its residents.
“The financial actions of our buyers and the official rights and pursuits of our nationals should not be unjustly infringed in the middle of US regulation enforcement,” South Korean overseas ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong mentioned.
Schrank mentioned the 475 arrested had been “illegally current in america” and “working unlawfully.”
“There was a majority of Korean nationals,” he mentioned, including that it was the “largest single website enforcement operation within the historical past of Homeland Safety Investigations.”
In Seoul, a supply acquainted with the matter instructed AFP that round 300 South Korean nationals had been detained.
Schrank mentioned he couldn’t give a breakdown of what number of of these arrested on the plant, which is meant to provide batteries for electrical autos, had been employed by Hyundai, LG or subcontractors.
These taken into custody have been turned over to ICE for potential removing, he mentioned.
READ: 1.2 million immigrants gone from US labor pressure below Trump, information exhibits
Billions in funding
Schrank mentioned a few of these detained had illegally crossed the US border, others arrived with visas that prohibited them from working and others overstayed their work visas.
“This operation underscores our dedication to defending jobs for Georgians and People, making certain a degree taking part in area for companies that adjust to the regulation, safeguarding the integrity of our economic system and defending employees from exploitation,” he mentioned.
South Korea, Asia’s fourth greatest economic system, is a key automaker and electronics producer with a number of vegetation in america.
South Korean firms have invested billions of {dollars} to construct factories in America in a bid to entry the US market and keep away from tariff threats from Trump.
President Lee Jae Myung met Trump throughout a go to final month, and Seoul pledged $350 billion in US funding in July.
Trump has pledged to revive the manufacturing sector in america, whereas additionally vowing to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants.
In a press release, Hyundai mentioned it was “intently monitoring” the scenario on the Georgia building website and “working to grasp the precise circumstances.”
“As of at this time, it’s our understanding that none of these detained is immediately employed by Hyundai Motor Firm,” the agency mentioned.
LG Power Resolution mentioned it was “gathering all related particulars.”
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“We are going to totally cooperate with the related authorities,” it added. /das
