Credited from: BBC
On September 4, a significant immigration raid at a Hyundai-operated electric vehicle battery factory in Georgia resulted in the detention of around 475 individuals, primarily South Korean nationals. This operation, labeled the largest single-site immigration enforcement conducted under the Trump administration, raised serious concerns over potential human rights violations, leading South Korea to announce an investigation into the matter, according to BBC and Le Monde.
Following the raid, images depicting detained workers in handcuffs stirred public outrage in South Korea, eliciting a stern response from the government. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed that the situation could have detrimental effects on future investments, stressing the bewilderment felt regarding the scale and nature of the operation. "This could discourage foreign investment into the US", Lee stated, reflecting on the unfortunate ramifications of the raid, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.
The South Korean government has reached out to the US amid growing concerns over the treatment of detainees during the raid. Allegations surfaced that detainees were not informed of their rights and were held under what some have described as inhumane conditions. One detainee reported that ICE agents made insensitive comments during the arrest, which heightened concerns about the methods employed by US authorities. The investigation aims to ascertain whether there were any violations of human rights, as detailed in reports by The Hill and Le Monde.
In the wake of these developments, President Trump emphasized that foreign workers are "welcome" in the US and expressed concern that the recent events could deter potential investments. He highlighted the need for skilled workers to aid in developing complex products. "I don’t want to frighten off or disincentivize investment," Trump remarked on his Truth Social platform, an assertion echoed by various sources reporting on the raid's fallout, including The Jakarta Post and Channel News Asia.