Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday labeled the hundreds of workers arrested in a recent raid at a South Korean plant construction site in Georgia as "illegal aliens," emphasizing that immigration officials were simply performing their duties.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the raid conducted at the electric vehicle battery construction site, operated by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution Ltd. in Bryan County, led to the arrest of 475 individuals, with a significant portion identified as South Koreans. Trump's comments came during a press availability at the White House following the confirmation of the raid by U.S. authorities, which forms part of his administration's broader immigration enforcement strategies.
Trump reiterated his stance by stating, "I would say that they were illegal aliens, and ICE was just doing its job," referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Earlier in the day, Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, confirmed that the arrests were made during the execution of a search warrant amid a criminal investigation into allegations of "unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes."
Schrank elaborated that the operation aimed to enforce accountability and uphold the rule of law, with over 300 of the arrested individuals being South Korean nationals. The 475 individuals included those who had illegally entered the U.S., those who misused the visa waiver program, and others who had overstayed their visas. Subcontractors from various companies were among those detained, and they are currently under the custody of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Most of those apprehended were taken to the Folkston Immigration Detention Center in Folkston, Georgia, with future relocations depending on individual circumstances. Authorities reported no significant use of force during the raid, with minor injuries limited to one individual experiencing overheating and an agent with a minor laceration.
Authorities described the operation as "the largest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations." The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia noted that several individuals attempted to escape during the raid, with some running into a sewage pond and being retrieved by agents using a boat. The office emphasized the operation's goal of curbing illegal employment and protecting unauthorized workers from exploitation, while also ensuring that employers do not gain an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers.
South Korea's foreign ministry expressed "concern and regret" over the raid, emphasizing that the rights of the detained individuals should not be unjustly violated. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor America clarified that, to their knowledge, none of the detained individuals were directly employed by Hyundai Motor. The company reaffirmed its commitment to compliance with all laws and regulations and pledged to investigate its suppliers and subcontractors to ensure adherence to legal standards.