A massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will postpone its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the delay after hundreds of foreign workers were detained.
raid strains bilateral ties
The raid has fueled friction between Washington and Seoul. Many of the detained workers came from South Korea. President Yoon warned the crackdown could deter international firms from investing in the United States.
South Korean officials said the workers were dispatched temporarily to help launch the new facility. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American outlets the raid will delay the opening by two to three months because many workers now want to return home.
record-setting us immigration action
The Georgia raid was the largest immigration action in American history. Authorities detained 475 people, including around 300 South Koreans. US officials said the workers lacked legal authorization. South Korean officials countered that it is standard practice for Korean companies to send staff abroad to establish new plants.
Officials in Seoul confirmed the workers are scheduled to fly back on Friday. Their flight had been set for Wednesday but was postponed. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung said Donald Trump suggested the workers remain in the United States to train locals. Only one accepted.
hyundai plans replacements
José Muñoz said Hyundai is working on how to replace the workers planning to return to South Korea. The company underlined that none of the detained people were directly employed by Hyundai.
LG Energy Solution, which co-runs the Georgia battery facility with Hyundai, stated that many of its detained employees held visas or traveled under the visa waiver programme.
investment pledges under pressure
At a press conference on Thursday, President Yoon warned such restrictions could complicate factory construction in the United States. He said stricter rules may cause companies to reconsider major investments.
The raid has raised doubts about a trade deal reached earlier this year. Donald Trump had pledged to reduce tariff threats in exchange for billions of dollars in South Korean commitments.
Hyundai alone promised $26 billion, including a new steel plant in Louisiana. Trump celebrated the project as part of his drive to revive American manufacturing with foreign capital.
georgia project hailed as historic
The raided plant is part of a larger industrial complex in Georgia. The project is expected to generate 8,500 jobs and has been described as the most significant economic development in the state’s history.
