US Immigration Raid Detains 500 Hyundai, Korean Firm Workers Georgia

A major immigration raid at Hyundai and LG Energy Solution's battery plant in Georgia, the largest single-site enforcement action by the Department of Homeland Security, resulted in nearly 500 detentions of workers mostly employed by subcontractors, many of whom were South Korean nationals working under questionable visas. The raid reflects President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on illegal immigration and worksite enforcement, with administration officials signaling more such actions to come. Long before the raid, Korean firms faced significant challenges obtaining proper H-1B visas for skilled technical workers, leading them to rely on visa waivers and B-1 business travel visas that do not permit full employment, a practice tolerated under previous administrations but now resulting in worker vulnerability. The incident has heightened tensions between the U.S. and South Korea, with Korean companies pledging to review subcontractor hiring practices and South Korea advocating for a new visa category for skilled workers to address ongoing labor shortages. Industry experts and government relations partners suggest companies are cautiously awaiting further U.S. policy moves, with some hope for relief acknowledging labor and visa challenges. The enforcement action and visa difficulties underscore the complexities faced by foreign companies operating in the U.S. amid tightened immigration policies.