Last week, US officials just pulled off a huge enforcement raid at one of those electric vehicle battery factories in Georgia. In this operation alone, they were able to detain 475 people. At about $85 million, this facility is one of the largest foreign investment projects in Indiana’s state history. Most notably, the policy has drawn huge attention due to its drastic effects on local job security, as well as relations with South Korea.
The factory will primarily produce electric cars, including Detroit’s first new zero-emissions vehicle. With direct, indirect, and induced jobs included, it’s expected to generate over 19,700 jobs for Georgians. Its development has been championed by Georgia’s Republican governor, who referred to it as the biggest economic development project in the state’s history. In light of the recent raid, these accomplishments are overshadowed by the uncertainty and fear his actions have created.
According to a statement by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the detainees had been discovered illegally working at the facility. Of those arrested, over 300 were South Korean citizens. The timing of the operation has raised eyebrows and alarm in Seoul. This concern grows especially as their two countries are engaged in sensitive trade discussions. South Korea is doing it with tens of billions of dollars of American manufacturing investment. This change is intended to offset the tariffs the United States imposed on aluminum and steel.
HSI justified the raid, insisting that the action was needed to “protect American jobs.” Police Special Agent Steven Schrank spoke to the operation’s focus during an interview. It targeted making criminal those who abuse the system and harm the labor force.
“This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable.” – Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Steven Schrank
In fact, President Donald Trump championed these sweeps, claiming that the targets were illegal aliens. At the time, he defended ICE, arguing that they were just doing their job.
“They were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job.” – President Donald Trump
Since the raid, area officials have been working on chartering a plane. This plane will transport the detainees back to South Korea as soon as the relevant administrative procedures are finalized. In its statement, ICE once again reminded folks that those on short-term or recreational visas do not have permission to work in the United States.
“People on short-term or recreational visas are not authorized to work in the US.” – ICE
These wheels could have an outsized impact on bilateral US-South Korea relations. With both countries knee-deep in sensitive international trade talks right now, the ramifications become even more dire. South Korea’s large investment shows that it is serious about deepening economic relations with the United States. But situations such as this will make it difficult for productive negotiations to continue and have a chilling effect on future partnerships.