by The Climax of the Conflict
Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz reported that a White House representative contacted him with apologies following the controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the automaker’s plant in Savannah, Georgia. This occurred against the backdrop of weeks of criticism regarding the treatment of Korean workers and the political confusion that arose after the operation.
Key Event Points
Further Consequences
After reports emerged that approximately 200 detained Korean workers were preparing to file a lawsuit against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, Munoz expressed his position. During a recent event in Singapore, he did not name the White House representative who contacted him but noted that this person claimed there was no prior notification about the raid.
Reaction of Local Authorities
The Hyundai executive added that the Governor of Georgia also called him, stating: “I don’t know what happened, this is not within the state’s jurisdiction.” Munoz also suggested that “someone might have called and created the impression that illegal immigrants were working at the plant.”
Visa Issues
It remains unclear how many workers, whom Hyundai brought from South Korea to set up the plant, had the wrong type of visa. Many were reportedly granted short-term or tourist visas, which do not permit employment, although a significant number had valid work permits.
Trump’s Attempted Intervention
Immediately after the raid, US President Donald Trump allegedly urged more than 300 workers detained by ICE to remain in the United States to help train American workers. However, this plan was not realized, and the workers were soon repatriated to South Korea. Later, Trump told journalists that he was “very much against” the raid.
Detention Conditions
Among the 475 workers detained by ICE agents during the raid, 317 were citizens of South Korea. They were held for about a week, in rooms of 60-80 people, forced to sleep on crumpled mattresses and drink water with an “unpleasant” smell. One of the workers also reported that Hyundai employees became subjects of guards’ mockery and racial slurs.
Source: BBC
This situation highlights the complexity of interaction between federal and state authorities on immigration issues, as well as the impact of political decisions on international business projects. The incident may have long-term consequences for investments in electric vehicle projects in the USA, as foreign companies may reconsider their plans due to the unpredictability of the regulatory environment.
