Earlier this month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents kicked off a nation-wide raid on undocumented immigrant workers at Hyundai’s sprawling foothold in Georgia. This massive facility sprawls across 3,000 acres. Just over a year in operation, the facility is exclusively focused on the production of electric vehicles. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has touted this operation as the largest economic development project in the state’s history. That just happens to be the fact that it employs nearly 1,200 people.
The Paterson ICE raid resulted in the detention of more than 450 individuals detected to be residing in the United States without authorization. Among those captured were notable South Korean nationals. South Korean foreign ministry responded in outrage. They called it an “unjust infringement” on the due process rights of Korean citizens. While somewhat overlooked, this development has profound implications for the use and protection of foreign workers in the American immigration law regime’s politicized and multifaceted enforcement.
Republican Governor Brian Kemp has been a fierce defender of Hyundai’s move. In his editorial, he explains how detrimental it would be to the local economy. This site will be pivotal to ramping up electric vehicle production in the U.S. On every level, it coincides beautifully with the national drive for more sustainable energy solutions. Yet this otherwise positive raid has put a pall over the future operations and investments by Korean firms in the region.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the raid was a response to “unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes,” underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws. This approach aligns with former President Trump’s campaign promises regarding mass deportations, particularly targeting undocumented individuals who have committed crimes.
South Korea’s foreign ministry emphasized the importance of safeguarding the economic activities of its investment companies and the rights of its citizens during U.S. law enforcement operations.
“The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement operations,” – South Korean foreign ministry
As Hyundai tries to step forward in this space, the ramifications of the raid are more than just legal repercussions. The episode illustrates a larger trend regarding immigration policy that is making it increasingly difficult for foreign investors to invest in the U.S.