Thu, 11 Sep 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 Hyundai says opening of raided plant to be delayed

The Korean car maker says many of the arrested workers now want to get back home
A massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia has caused a significant delay in the factory's opening, which is now expected to be at least two months later than initially planned. The raid resulted in the detention of 475 people, including around 300 from South Korea, sparking tensions between the US and South Korea. Hyundai's CEO said that many of those detained had been sent temporarily to help set up the factory, but will now want to return home due to the delay. The raid has raised concerns about the viability of a trade deal between the two countries, which was hailed as a major victory for President Trump earlier this year. The deal included Hyundai's pledge to invest $26 billion in the US, including a new steel factory in Louisiana. South Korea's president warned that the raid will discourage foreign investment into the US, while Hyundai is working out how to fill the positions of those who plan to return to South Korea. LG Energy Solution, which operates the battery plant with Hyundai, said that many of its employees had various types of visas or were under a visa waiver programme. The situation has also sparked concerns about security at universities and public events across the US, after some institutions received threats following a shooting in Utah earlier this week.
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