President Trump Warns Foreign Companies After Massive Georgia Immigration Raid

Washington, D.C. – In a significant and pointed message to international investors, President Donald Trump has called on foreign companies to “respect” U.S. immigration laws and prioritize the hiring of American workers. His comments follow a major immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia, where nearly 500 workers, including over 300 South Korean nationals, were detained.

The raid has triggered a diplomatic incident and cast a spotlight on the complexities of U.S. immigration policy and its impact on large-scale foreign investment. The Hyundai-LG plant, a $7.6 billion joint venture, is one of the largest economic development projects in Georgia’s history, and the enforcement action has temporarily halted its construction.

Details of the Raid

The multi-agency operation, codenamed “Operation Low Voltage,” was carried out by hundreds of federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, ICE, and other agencies. Federal officials stated the action was the result of a months-long criminal investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices. The raid was described by authorities as the largest single-site enforcement operation in Homeland Security Investigations’ history.

During the sweep, authorities detained a total of 475 individuals. Dramatic footage released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed agents directing workers in hard hats and safety vests to line up, with some being put in handcuffs and shackles before being loaded onto buses. Eyewitnesses reported a chaotic scene, with some workers attempting to flee by hiding in air ducts or jumping into a nearby sewage pond.

Sources familiar with the investigation said many of the detained South Korean workers had entered the U.S. on B-1 visas or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), neither of which permits manual labor.

Diplomatic Fallout and Repatriation

The detention of so many South Korean nationals prompted a swift and strong reaction from Seoul. South Korea’s government expressed “deep concern and regret” over the incident, with top officials immediately entering negotiations with the U.S. to secure the workers’ release. The diplomatic talks were successful, and an agreement was reached for the workers to be released and repatriated via chartered flights under a “voluntary departure” framework.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s office emphasized that the “rights and interests of our citizens and the economic activities of our companies” should not be unjustly infringed upon by U.S. law enforcement. The raid is seen as a major test of the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, particularly as the two nations have been working on a massive $350 billion Korean investment pledge in the U.S.

President Trump’s Statement and Future Policy

In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump defended the raid, stating that ICE was “doing right because they were here illegally.” He simultaneously extended an olive branch to foreign investors, affirming that their investments were welcome.

“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,” Trump wrote. “What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”

The president’s comments suggest a potential shift towards a policy that would allow for temporary foreign experts to assist in training U.S. workers for highly specialized industries like electric vehicle battery manufacturing. The raid and its aftermath have highlighted the tension between the U.S. goal of onshoring manufacturing and the challenges foreign companies face in navigating a complex and increasingly restrictive visa system.