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Many car workers arrested in a huge raid of workplace immigration in the United States have violated their visitors, employees say.
Immigration and application of customs (ICE) said that 475 people, mainly South Korean citizens, have been found to be illegally operating in the Hyundai battery in Georgia on Thursday.
“People in short or leisure visas are not authorized to work in the US,” Ice said, adding that the attack is necessary to protect US jobs.
South Korea, whose companies have promised to invest billions of dollars in key US industries in the coming years, partly, to avoid tariffs, sent diplomats to Georgia and called on the rights of their citizens to be respected.
The arrested workers were kept in an ice establishment in Volkston, Georgia until the agency decides where to move them afterwards.
The detained 300 reported to be Korean citizens. Hyundai said in a statement that none of them had been directly hired by the company.
The LG Energy Solution, which manages the plant with Hyundai, told the BBC that its main priority is to guarantee the safety and well -being of its employees and partners and that it “will cooperate entirely with the relevant authorities.”
In a statement on Friday, the ice service in Savannah said the attack was “part of an active, continuing criminal investigation.”
“The arrested during the operation was found to work illegally, in violation of the conditions of their visas and/or statuses,” the statement added.
But Charles Cook, an atlantic immigration lawyer, told The New York Times that two of his customers had been wrongly caught in the attack.
He told the newspaper that the couple is in the United States under a visa waiver program that allows them to travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days.
“My clients were doing exactly what they were allowed to do under a visa – to visit business meetings,” he said on Friday.
He said one of them only arrived on Tuesday and had to leave next week.
Ice said one of the detainees is a Mexican citizen and a green card holder with a long rap sheet.
Earlier, the individual was convicted of possession of drugs, trying to sell a stolen firearm and theft, according to ICE.
The Special Interior Security Agent (HSI) Stephen Schrand said: “We welcome all companies that want to invest in the United States.
“And if they have to bring workers to build or other projects, that’s good – but they have to do it in the legitimate way.
“This operation sends a clear message that those who use the system and undermine our labor force will be held accountable.”
The South Korean Foreign Ministry responded to the attack with a statement that says: “The economic activities of Korean investment companies and the rights and interests of Korean citizens should not be disrupted unfairly during US -laws.”
The raid increases the possible tension between two of President Donald Trump’s main priorities – building production in the United States and falling into illegal immigration. This can also put stress on the country’s relations with a key ally.
President Trump said in the oval office on Friday: “They were illegal aliens, and the ice was just doing its job.”
Asked by a reporter about Seoul’s reaction, he said, “Well, we want to get along with other countries and we want to have a great, stable workforce.
“And as I understand it, many illegal aliens, some not the best of humans, but we had very illegal aliens working there.”
Trump has worked to introduce major investments from other countries, while obliging tariffs, which he believed would give incentives to manufacturers to make goods in the United States.
The president also strives to destroy illegal immigration, telling supporters that he believes migrants are stealing jobs from Americans.
The factory, which is making new electric vehicles, was advertised by Georgia’s Republican governor as the largest economic development project in the history of the country where 1200 people employ.
