A massive immigration raid at a Hyundai facility in Georgia will postpone its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the delay after hundreds of foreign workers were detained.
raid fuels diplomatic tension
The raid has increased strains between Washington and Seoul. Many of the detained workers were South Korean nationals. President Yoon warned the crackdown could discourage foreign investment in the United States.
South Korean officials said the workers were sent temporarily to assist in launching the new plant. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American media the raid will delay the opening by two to three months because many workers now plan to return home.
record-setting immigration operation
The Georgia raid marked the largest immigration sweep in US history. Authorities detained 475 people, including about 300 South Koreans. US officials said the workers lacked legal authorization to work. South Korean officials countered that sending staff abroad to set up factories is standard practice.
Officials in Seoul confirmed the workers are scheduled to fly back on Friday. Their departure had been set for Wednesday but postponed. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung said Donald Trump suggested the workers remain to continue training American staff. Only one accepted.
hyundai seeks replacements
José Muñoz said Hyundai is planning how to fill positions left by workers returning home. The company emphasized that none of the detained employees were directly employed by Hyundai.
LG Energy Solution, which co-operates the Georgia battery plant with Hyundai, said many of its detained staff held visas or entered under the visa waiver programme.
investment plans under pressure
At a press conference on Thursday, President Yoon warned stricter rules could complicate factory construction in the United States. He said companies may reconsider whether large-scale investments remain worthwhile.
The raid has also raised questions about a trade agreement signed earlier this year. Donald Trump pledged to ease tariff threats in exchange for billions of dollars in South Korean investment.
Hyundai alone committed $26 billion, including a steel plant in Louisiana. Trump praised the project as part of his strategy to revive US manufacturing with foreign capital.
georgia project expected to transform economy
The raided facility is part of a vast industrial complex in Georgia. The development is expected to create 8,500 jobs and has been described as the largest economic project in the state’s history.
