Business executives warn that the sweeping immigration raid at Hyundai‘s Georgia EV battery plant risks undermining U.S. foreign investment, urging President Trump to ease up and consider reforming visa rules for skilled labor
Business Executives Urge Trump to Ease Immigration Crackdown After Georgia Raid
A recent immigration raid at the Hyundai–LG electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia—part of a $7.6 billion investment—has alarmed business leaders. They are calling on President Trump to reconsider aggressive enforcement tactics, warning such actions could undermine America’s ability to attract critical foreign investment and skilled workers.
The raid, the largest ever conducted at a single site by the Department of Homeland Security, resulted in the detention of approximately 475 individuals, the majority of whom were South Korean nationals employed under B-1 business visas or visa waiver programs that did not authorize work.
Business groups and immigration experts now warn that this enforcement-first approach sends a chilling message to multinational companies, jeopardizing ongoing and future projects in sectors that heavily rely on global talent, such as electric vehicle manufacturing.
President Trump later called on foreign firms to “hire and train American workers” and hinted at the possibility of legally admitting foreign experts for the purpose of training U.S. personnel. Still, business leaders argue that an outright insistence on domestic labor alone doesn’t fully address the skills gap and urgency in advanced manufacturing.
On the diplomatic front, South Korea has protested the detentions, with government officials pushing for better visa pathways for skilled workers and for the detainees’ rights to be respected. This incident threatens to strain U.S.–South Korea economic ties at a time when cooperation is vital to both trade and technological advancement.
In summary:
- Business leaders are calling for balanced immigration policies that safeguard national security without jeopardizing foreign investment.
- The Hyundai raid underscores the urgent need for modernized visa frameworks supporting skilled labor in high-tech industries.
- Diplomats and corporate executives alike are urging a diplomatic and pragmatic approach to enforcement—one that maintains compliance while encouraging economic growth.
