A mass immigration raid at a Hyundai facility in Georgia will delay its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the setback after hundreds of foreign workers were detained.
raid sparks international tension
The raid has strained ties between Washington and Seoul. Many of the detained workers came from South Korea. President Yoon warned the crackdown could discourage future foreign investment in the United States.
South Korean officials said the workers were dispatched temporarily to help launch the new factory. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American media the raid will delay operations by two to three months because many workers now intend to return home.
largest immigration action in us history
The Georgia raid marked the biggest immigration action in American history. Authorities detained 475 people, including around 300 South Koreans. US immigration officials said the workers lacked authorization to work in the country. South Korean officials countered that sending employees abroad to set up factories is a common business practice.
Officials in Seoul confirmed the workers are due to return home on Friday. Their flight had been planned for Wednesday but was delayed. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung said Donald Trump proposed that the workers remain in the United States to train Americans. Only one agreed to the plan.
hyundai faces staffing challenge
José Muñoz said Hyundai is now exploring ways to replace staff who plan to go back to South Korea. The company stressed that none of the detained workers were directly employed by Hyundai.
LG Energy Solution, which runs the Georgia battery site with Hyundai, said many of its detained staff held different visas or were traveling under the visa waiver programme.
investment plans under pressure
At a press conference on Thursday, President Yoon warned such measures could complicate building factories in the United States. He said companies may start to reconsider whether large-scale investments remain worthwhile.
The raid has also cast doubt on a trade agreement reached earlier this year. Donald Trump had pledged to scale back tariff threats in return for major South Korean investment.
Hyundai alone promised $26 billion, including a new steel plant in Louisiana. Trump highlighted the project as part of his push to boost US manufacturing with foreign investment.
georgia project set to reshape economy
The raided facility is part of a huge industrial complex in Georgia. The development is expected to generate 8,500 jobs and has been hailed as the most significant economic project in the state’s history.
