South Korean workers arrested in ICE raid on Hyundai

已複製連結

Hundreds of U.S. federal agents descended on a site which Hyundai uses in its manufacturing of electric vehicles.

This, as ICE carried out a massive raid in the southern U.S. state of Georgia, the largest single site operation in Homeland Security history.

Most of the 475 detained were South Korean nationals and officials say they have violated their visitor visas.

Quiet now at the battery construction centre and manufacturing plant for South Korean car firm Hyundai, with Korean investment in the state of Georgia enthusiastically welcomed by politicians from both sides of the aisle.

Earlier, 475 were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a months-long "criminal" investigation into illegal contractors on site.

Homeland Security searching for proof of abuses with accusations some were working in the U.S. illegally, having violated the conditions of their entry or stayed too long.

Hyundai believe none of those taken away for questioning were directly employed by them but were "contractors for the HL-GA Battery Company."

Most of those detained were South Koreans, as confirmed by the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, though the exact number undisclosed.

"There was a majority of Korean nationals from the 475," saod Steven Schrank, of Home Security Investigations.

"As we had determined through our investigation in advance and certainly experienced yesterday, there was a network of subcontractors and subcontractors for the subcontractors there. So, the employees worked for a variety of different companies that were on the site. It was not just the parent company but also subcontractors and we're unveiling that whole network. We continue to work on the investigation of who exactly worked for what company."

The raid prompting questions to President Trump whose controversial immigration policy has seen thousands detained or deported.

"I would say that they were illegal aliens, and ICE was just doing its job," said Trump . "But I know nothing about the instance, it happened a little while ago."

South Korea said last week they are investing 150 billion dollars into the U.S. mostly to avoid tariffs, many see Seoul as an indispensable partner.

"Well, and they have the right to sell cars and things in our country, you know, it's not like a one-sided deal," Trump said.

"Well, we want to get along with other countries, and we want have a great, stable workforce. And we had, as I understand it, a lot of illegal aliens, some not the best of people."

Accusations flying with South Korean companies, other than Hyundai, which were embroiled in visa controversies in the past.

South Korea is one of 42 countries whose nationals are allowed into the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days.

ICE say people on short-term or recreational visas cannot work at this plant and their raid was to protect "American jobs."