Hyundai’s CEO, José Muñoz, reported on Wednesday that he received a personal call from the White House apologizing for a recent immigration raid at a factory in Georgia. Muñoz, speaking at a business leaders conference in Singapore, also mentioned that the Governor of Georgia contacted him, expressing uncertainty about the situation and stating it was not under state jurisdiction.
In September, over 300 South Korean workers were detained during an immigration raid at a battery plant jointly operated by Hyundai and LG. This incident contributed to rising tensions between the United States and South Korea. The workers were reportedly forced to sit on the factory floor and had their legs shackled during the raid, which drew strong reactions from South Korean officials. Following discussions between the South Korean government and their U.S. counterparts, the workers were eventually returned home after more than a week in detention.
Hyundai indicated that the raid could delay the opening of the plant due to labor shortages. During a panel discussion, Muñoz suggested that there might have been a misunderstanding or misinformation that led to the perception of illegal immigration at the facility, asserting that this was not the case. He referred to the raid as “a bad surprise” but reiterated the company’s commitment to manufacturing in the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump had previously voiced opposition to the raid, mentioning an understanding regarding the need for expert workers to establish specialized facilities and train local personnel. Although the incident heightened tensions, the U.S. and South Korea announced in October that they had reached a trade agreement to reduce reciprocal tariffs and that South Korea would invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8ey0nl62ypo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss