Trump Hoped South Korean Workers Might Train Americans
This image from video provided by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows manufacturing plant employees waiting to have their legs shackled at the Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle plant, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Ellabell, Ga. (Corey Bullard/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)
Hundreds of South Korean workers detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia have begun returning home, with their arrival expected Friday, according to NBC News. The mass detention—described as the largest workplace enforcement action under the current administration—involved 475 individuals, including more than 300 South Korean nationals allegedly working without proper documentation.
The incident has sparked concern in South Korea, where President Lee Jae-myung warned of potential long-term consequences for bilateral economic ties. “The situation is extremely bewildering,” Lee said, as quoted by the BBC. He noted that it’s standard practice for South Korean companies to send workers abroad to assist in launching new manufacturing facilities. “If that’s no longer allowed, setting up operations in the U.S. will only become more difficult—and companies will begin to question whether it’s worth the effort.”
The workers might have returned earlier, but the Washington Post reports that President Trump delayed their departure to consider whether some could remain in the U.S. temporarily to train American workers. Ultimately, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun persuaded Secretary of State Marco Rubio to expedite their release, with the understanding that some workers could return in the future under proper arrangements.
The Post also pointed to a broader policy inconsistency: while President Trump has encouraged high-tech investment from nations like South Korea, critics argue that the U.S. has not provided a visa framework to support the specialized workforce such investment often requires.
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