Trump raids, Hyundai, the construction site, where manufacturing functions continue in the United States

Nearly 500 people were arrested on Thursday in a migration raid in a new manufacturing complex in Hyundai, Georgia.

The huge raid highlights the increasing tensions between President Donald Trump’s policies to combat immigration, his commercial negotiations fueled by customs tariffs, and promised him to re -manufacture jobs to the United States

Stephen Sheeranik, a special agent responsible for Atlanta investigations by proxy, said at a press conference, according to what he said. Associated Press.

Shernche said 475 people were arrested, most of them from South Korea. He added that the detainees either crossed the border illegally, exceeded their visas, or were under a program to waive the visa that prevented them from the ability to work. but, Wall Street Magazine Reports that some of those arrested are LG Energy employees who were in the United States to travel to work.

South Korea Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Gaewong hastened to criticize the raid.

“The commercial activities of our investors and the rights of our citizens should not violate the American law enforcement.”

The raid comes months after the United States and South Korea finally reached an agreement after tense trade talks. Earlier this summer, the two sides Agreed To impose a 15 % tariff on South Korea imports for $ 350 billion in the promised investments in the United States

Trump has repeatedly used the threats of definitions to pressure foreign governments and companies to pledge more investments in the United States. Companies like apple and Openai They have committed all billions in recent months, in the hope of obtaining a favorable treatment from the administration. Hyundai promised recently to Increase its American investments to 26 billion dollars.

Nevertheless, RAID targeted a site specifically the location of the construction of a new EV battery factory, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy solution. The next factory near separate 7.6 billion dollars Hyundai Ev-Manufacturing Complex In Georgia, officials described the largest manufacturing project in state history. Hyundai said the EV complex is expected to create 8,500 jobs by 2031.

Hyundai did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Gizmodo. However, HL-GA Battery Company, the joint project with LG Energy Solution, told AP that it was cooperating with the authorities and stopped construction in the factory in the meantime.

The factory construction is badly when the manufacture of jobs in the United States continues to shrink. The unemployment rate in the United States increased to 4.3 % in August, its highest level since 2021, according to Jadid. a report From the American Labor Statistics Office. Manufacturing functions specifically decreased by 12,000 jobs last month and 78,000 decreased during the past year.