Trump demands foreign firms in US ‘rent and practice’ – Business News
President Donald Trump demanded that “all Foreign Companies” in the US “hire and train American Workers” after practically 500 workers have been swept up in a huge immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Sept. 4 — described by Homeland Security as the most important single-site enforcement motion in its historical past — ended with more than 300 South Koreans detained — together with engineers and instructors — in addition to practically 200 Latino staff.
Images of the shackled staff being led onto buses, broadcast broadly in Seoul, ignited political uproar and investor unease in South Korea.
Donald Trump stated he desires foreign firms in the US to “hire and train” Americans. REUTERS
“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 early Monday.
“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.”
Trump later advised reporters: “I would say that they were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job.”
The investigation came about over a number of months, Steven Schrank, particular agent in charge of investigations for Georgia, stated during a press briefing.
“The United States is proud to be a home for major investments and looks forward to continuing to build on these historic investments and partnerships that President Trump has secured,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson advised The Post in a assertion.
“Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations.”
Homeland Security brokers carried out the most important single-site immigration raid in US historical past at Hyundai’s battery plant in Georgia. EPA/Shutterstock
Jackson added that President Donald Trump “will continue delivering on his promise to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.”
South Korea confirmed Sunday that the 300 nationals detained in the raid can be launched and flown home on chartered flights after Seoul reached settlement with the Trump administration.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of employees to President Lee Jae Myung, stated “only administrative procedures remain” earlier than the employees return.
Homeland Security officers detained about 300 South Korean residents during the Sept. 4 raid. Reuters
South Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stated Monday the federal government is “well aware of the concerns” raised by the raid and vowed to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to “explore ways to improve the system.”
The fallout was instant, in response to Bloomberg News.
LG Energy has tentatively postponed the launch of EV battery manufacturing on the Georgia facility, in response to the Korea Economic Daily. Hyundai has barred employees from touring to the US.
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Samsung Electronics has tightened restrictions on business journeys underneath the ESTA program, telling workers to restrict stays to 2 weeks, in response to Bloomberg News.
The crackdown got here much less than two weeks after President Lee Jae Myung met President Donald Trump in Washington, the place the 2 touted a commerce pact together with a $350 billion US fund to back Korean investment.
South Korean firms individually pledged $150 billion in direct US spending. Now, these commitments look shakier.
Hyundai has barred employees from US journey after a whole bunch of Korean staff have been detained in Georgia. AFP through Getty Images
LG Energy had deliberate to start out battery manufacturing this yr, concentrating on 30 GWh yearly, however the new timeline shifts operations to the primary half of 2026.
The delay may ripple throughout Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Corp., that are relying on the Georgia plant to provide batteries for his or her increasing EV lineups.
An LG Energy spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg News on Monday that manufacturing was already pushed to subsequent yr because of “market conditions,” insisting it was “too early” to say if the raid would additional have an effect on operations.
Hyundai and Kia representatives additionally advised Bloomberg News it was untimely to evaluate any business influence.
Still, analysts see warning indicators.
Samsung has tightened guidelines on US business journey following the raid that detained 300 South Korean staff. REUTERS
“The case demonstrates how tough it has become for Korean companies to make money from the investments in the US,” Kang DaeKwun, chief investment officer at Life Asset Management, advised Bloomberg News.
He cited inflation, workforce shortages and new immigration scrutiny as mounting challenges.
Investor response was muted in Seoul. LG Energy shares completed up 0.2% on Monday, whereas Hyundai slipped 0.7%, barely underperforming the broader market. Analysts famous the battery delay had been broadly anticipated.
But dangers are mounting for Korean firms that depend on subcontractors and short-term labor whereas ready months for US visas to clear.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who additionally heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce, urged the federal government to barter expanded US visa quotas to forestall comparable incidents.
President Lee, talking in Seoul after the raid, acknowledged the political stakes with out naming detainees.
“We are at a very difficult situation,” he stated, stressing the need to strengthen “national power” in ties with the US and Japan.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun departed for Washington Monday to press for the release of the 300 Koreans now held in US custody. A Seoul authorities official stated preparations have been being made for a voluntary departure flight.
Kia is amongst South Korean automakers going through fallout after a huge US immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia. Christopher Sadowski
Cho advised reporters he was “not ruling out” returning with the detainees Wednesday, relying on talks with US officers.
The Georgia facility is central to US efforts to lock down home EV provide chains, a pillar of Trump’s industrial coverage. The raid and ensuing delay throw contemporary uncertainty into automakers’ manufacturing schedules.
Yuanta Securities analyst Anna Lee warned in a report that mass-producing batteries in 2026 is now inconceivable. She expects a one-year delay because of “diplomatic solutions required in the absence of other visa options for workers.”
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung addressed the raid’s political fallout simply weeks after assembly President Donald Trump in Washington. Reuters
Even so, she advised Bloomberg News that earnings influence can be restricted since LG Energy had already flagged attainable manufacturing setbacks.
Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Kia, and SK all have billions driving on US manufacturing enlargement.
With visa quotas tight, wage prices rising and political scrutiny intensifying, executives concern the profitability of these bets may shrink.
The Post has sought remark from the the State Department, the Korean authorities, Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Kia and SK.
