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The work in a Hyundai facility in Hyundai Motor Car Battery, which was built in Georgia, arrested in an immigration attack after hundreds of employees, mainly South Korean citizens.
The website is one of the essential investments by the Korean automobile manufacturer in the USA.
According to US immigration officers, around 475 people were arrested who marked the largest operations in the history of the US Ministry of Homeland Security (DHS).
The arrests occur in the middle of an escalating procedure against immigrants through the administration of President Donald Trump, a policy that has disrupted companies across the country, even if the White House has actively encouraged more foreign investments.
This incident risks the tensions between Washington and Seoul, a decisive ally and investor in the United States. The two nations were already in loggerheads about the finer details of a trade agreement that contains $ 150 billion in US investments, and Hyundai motor promises only $ 26 billion.
Homeland protection officers said that the workers arrested in Ellabell, Georgia, were excluded from the work in the United States after crossing the border illegally or crossing their visa.
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Federal agents arrested workers in a battery system in a Hyundai facility in Georgia (Office for alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives)
A Hyundai Motor spokesman said that none of the people arrested was employed directly by the company.
The spokesman said that his Chief Manufacturing Officer for North America, Chris Susock, “would take over the government of the entire megasite in Georgia”.
“We will carry out an investigation to ensure that all suppliers and their subcontractors meet all laws and regulations.
“Hyundai has no tolerance for those who do not follow the law.”
The arrested workers were held in the ICES Folkston, Georgia prison, said Schrank. Most of the 475 people are South Korean citizens, he said.
Korean media have detained the number of South Koreans with around 300 people.
The RAID – referred to as the “Operation Low Tension” – comprised more than 400 law enforcement officers after months of investigation.
A spokesman for the Joint Venture partner of Hyundai, the South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solutions 373220.KS, said in a statement that it was more cooperating and had stopped the construction work in the construction work.
The system, a joint venture between LGGE and Hyundai motor, should start operating at the end of this year.
The Hyundai motor shares declined by 0.7 percent on Friday, and the LGGE shares decreased by 2.3 percent.
“Biggest development project”
Under Trump, the immigration and customs authority or ice, part of DHS, drove the Republican leader's comprehensive procedure against migrants, which were strengthened by record financing and new width to carry out raids.
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The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia (AP)
Trump said he wanted to deport “the worst of the worst” criminals, but ice numbers have shown an increase in non -criminals that are recorded. Lawyers have denounced such raids.
The White House said on Friday that “all foreign employees who were brought in for certain projects have to enter the United States legally and with reasonable work permits.”
The South Korean Foreign Ministry regretted and concerned about the attack.
“The economic activities of our companies that invest in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be excessively injured in the course of the US criminal track,” said the spokesman for the Ministry Lee Jae-Woong in a statement on Friday.
Social media videos showed a man who showed a vest with the letters that were an acronym for homeland protection examinations, and told the employees in yellow security vests: “We have a search command for the entire website. We need construction companies to stop immediately on the website.”
In a statement, the US Ministry of Justice said that several people had tried to flee during the attack. Some had to be fished from a sewage pond on the premises, said Doj.
The Democratic Party in Georgia condemned the attack and described it as part of the “politically motivated fear tactics to terrorize people who work hard for their livelihood, operate our economy and contribute to the communities throughout Georgia that they have made their houses.”
In a statement, a spokesman for Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia, said: “In Georgia we will always enforce the law, including all state and federal immigration laws.”
Hyundai said that the production of electric vehicles at the extensive location was not affected.
In 2023, Hyundai Motor and LG Energy announced the 4.3 billion dollars for the production of EV battery cells, whereby each company holds a share of 50 percent.
The system provides batteries for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EV models.
The battery factory is part of Hyundai's $ 12.6 billion dollars into the state, including the car manufacturer's auto-made autoblikum, in the “largest economic development project in the history of the state”.
