A US official said on Friday that most of the 475 people arrested in a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant being built in Georgia were South Koreans who were thought to be operating illegally in the US.
The raid happened while President Donald Trump was cracking down on immigrants all throughout the country and promising to carry out the greatest deportation drive in US history.
Steven Schrank, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, claimed that Thursday’s operation was part of a “criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and serious federal crimes.”
“This was, in fact, the biggest single site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations,” Schrank remarked at a press conference.
The US Embassy in Seoul has received a message from South Korea saying they are “concerned and regretful” about the raid and asking Washington to protect the rights of its residents.
Lee Jae-woong, a spokesman for the South Korean foreign ministry, told reporters, “US law enforcement must not unfairly interfere with the economic activities of our investors or the legitimate rights and interests of our citizens.”
Schrank added that the 475 people who were arrested at the joint venture plant of Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution in Ellabell were “illegally present in the United States” and “working unlawfully.”
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He said, “There were a lot of Koreans among the 475.”
A source in Seoul told AFP that over 300 South Korean citizens had been arrested.
Schrank said he couldn’t say how many of the people who were arrested at the plant, which is supposed to make batteries for electric cars, worked for Hyundai, LG, or a subcontractor.
He claimed that those who were arrested have been sent to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible deportation.
“We are sending a clear and unambiguous message that those who take advantage of our workers, hurt our economy, and break federal laws will be held responsible,” he said.
Investments worth billions
South Korea is a major carmaker and electronics maker with several factories in the United States. It has the fourth largest economy in Asia.
To get into the US market and dodge tariff threats from Trump, South Korean corporations have spent billions of dollars to develop plants in the US.
Last month, President Lee Jae Myung met with Trump, and in July, Seoul promised $350 billion in US investment.
Hyundai said in a statement that it was “closely monitoring” the situation at the Georgia construction site and “working to understand the specific circumstances.”
The company said, “As of today, we know that none of those who were arrested works directly for Hyundai Motor Company.”
LG Energy Solution stated it was “gathering all relevant information.”
It went on to say, “We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities.”
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