Hundreds of South Korean nationals detained during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Hyundai site in Georgia last week will soon be repatriated as President Donald Trump called for foreign companies to “respect” America’s laws.
The roughly 300 workers were detained during a massive immigration enforcement operation on September 4 at a Hyundai plant in Bryan County, leading to the apprehension of around 475 people who the Trump administration said were illegally working in the country.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, said on Sunday that the South Koreans detained during the operation would be returning home soon.
“As a result of the swift and united response … negotiations for the release of the detained workers have been concluded,” he said, according to the Guardian. “Only administrative procedures remain. Once these are completed, a chartered flight will depart to bring our citizens home.”
Responding to the raid on Sunday night, Trump urged all foreign companies working inside the United States to follow immigration laws and hire American workers.
“Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “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. What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers. Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before.”
