ICE Raids Hyundai Georgia Factory Detaining Nearly 500 Workers

A major immigration raid was conducted at a Hyundai-LG battery factory under construction in Georgia, resulting in nearly 500 mostly South Korean workers being detained for allegedly working on temporary visas not authorized for such employment. This enforcement action, the largest single-site raid in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement history, has sparked diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Korea, with South Korean officials expressing concern and seeking to ease visa restrictions for skilled foreign workers. The raid highlights a conflict within President Trump's administration between stringent immigration enforcement and policies aimed at attracting foreign investment to boost U.S. manufacturing. Critics condemn the raid as an attack on workers and a manifestation of the administration’s harsh immigration approach, while U.S. officials defend the operation as a necessary enforcement of immigration laws. Despite the raid, Hyundai and LG's $4.3 billion battery venture is expected to continue, though with potential delays and increased compliance costs. The incident underscores the administration's challenge in balancing immigration control with economic and trade objectives involving international partners.