Market Insider — South Korean workers detained during a U.S. immigration raid at Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia were released a day later than scheduled, as Seoul claims President Donald Trump sought to keep them in the country to help train American workers.
What Happened
The raid, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, took place last week at the Hyundai–LG Energy Solution joint facility in Bryan County, Georgia. Authorities detained roughly 475 individuals, including more than 300 South Korean nationals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the release of the South Koreans was delayed after Trump intervened, reportedly suggesting they remain in the U.S. as part of his administration’s broader effort to strengthen American manufacturing through closer cooperation with Korean companies.
A South Korean foreign ministry official told the Korea Times that Trump described the detainees as “skilled workers” whose expertise could be used to train Americans in advanced manufacturing techniques. He requested the repatriation process be paused while the idea was explored.
Diplomatic Pushback
The proposal was reportedly raised during talks between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While acknowledging the value of skilled technical staff, Seoul rejected the offer, stressing that the workers were “shocked and exhausted” and wanted to return home.
Cho instead suggested creating a bilateral working group to examine the possibility of a new visa program for skilled South Korean workers — a proposal Rubio said Washington would “actively review.”
President Lee Jae Myung confirmed on Thursday that 316 South Koreans and 14 other foreign nationals would fly out of Atlanta aboard a chartered Korean Airlines flight. One worker chose to remain in the U.S. due to family ties.
Investment Implications
The episode comes just weeks after Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to invest $26 billion in the U.S. between 2025 and 2028, with electric vehicle and battery manufacturing at the center of its strategy.
Speaking in Seoul, President Lee warned the raid could chill Korean investment in the U.S. “You need skilled technicians to install equipment at a factory. The U.S. doesn’t have such personnel, yet visas for those coming for this purpose are not allowed,” he said. If unresolved, he added, Korean firms may “inevitably question” whether to proceed with large-scale U.S. investments.
Trump’s Position
Trump has defended the immigration raid, calling the detained South Koreans “illegal” workers. Still, he acknowledged the importance of foreign technical expertise in building advanced industries.
“If you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries, maybe we should help them along and let some people come in and train our people,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.
In a later post on Truth Social, he urged foreign investors to follow U.S. immigration laws, while promising streamlined legal pathways for companies to bring in “very smart people, with great technical talent.” He emphasized that foreign firms would be expected to hire and train American workers in return.
The Bigger Picture
The incident highlights the delicate balance between Trump’s hardline immigration stance and his administration’s desire to boost domestic manufacturing through foreign investment. For South Korean conglomerates like Hyundai and LG, the uncertainty over visas for skilled technicians could complicate billions of dollars in U.S. expansion plans.
