US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged foreign companies to adhere strictly to American immigration laws after a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia led to the detention of more than 400 workers.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump welcomed foreign investment but stressed that companies must bring in skilled talent through legal pathways while also prioritizing American workers. “Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build world-class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so. What we ask in return is that you hire and train American workers,” he wrote.
The ICE operation at Hyundai’s Metaplant in Ellabell, jointly run with LG Energy Solution, resulted in 475 detentions, including around 300 South Korean nationals, according to CNN. Officials described it as one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent US history.
The South Korean government has since been in close coordination with its embassy in Washington and the consulate in Atlanta to secure the release of the detained workers. CNN reported that the workers will be repatriated to South Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations.
Trump emphasized that foreign investment and American labor could complement each other if guided by lawful processes, adding that unity and productivity should remain central goals.
