US Immigration Officers Arrest Hundreds Of People At Georgia's Hyundai Factory

JAKARTA - Hundreds of workers at the Hyundai Motor car battery facility under construction in Georgia, United States, were detained in a raid by US authorities.

The raids halted work at the factory, which is one of the main investments for the Korean automaker in the US.

Sekitar 475 pekerja, yang sebagian besar adalah warga negara Korea Selatan, ditangkap, menurut pejabat imigrasi AS. Ini menjadi ooperasi penegakan hukum satu lokasi terbesar dalam sejarah Departemen Keamanan Dalam Negeri AS (DHS).

President Donald Trump's administration stepped up a crackdown on immigrants, disrupting businesses across the country, even as the White House has pushed more inflows from foreign investors.

The arrests could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Seoul, a key ally and investor in the US. The two countries have clashed over the details of a trade deal that includes a $350 billion investment.

At a summit last month, South Korea promised an investment of $150 billion in the US - including $26 billion from Hyundai Motor.

Domestic Security officials said workers arrested at the Ellabell location, Georgia, were barred from working in the US after crossing the border illegally or exceeding the visa deadline.

The investigation lasted for several months, said Steven Schrank, the special agent in charge of the investigation for Georgia, in a press conference.

"This is not an immigration operation where agents enter the location, gather people, and put them on the bus," he said.

Schrank said there was a subcontractor network at that location.

A Hyundai Motor spokesman said no one was detained was hired directly by the car manufacturer.

The company said the manufacturing chief for North America, Chris Susock, would "take over all megasite governance in Georgia."

"We will carry out an investigation to ensure all suppliers and their subcontractors comply with all laws and regulations. Hyundai does not tolerate those who do not comply with the law," he said.

The arrested workers were detained at the ICE detention facility in Folkston, Georgia.

Most of the 475 people are South Korean citizens. Meanwhile, Korean media said the number of South Koreans detained was around 300 people.

The raid involved more than 400 law enforcement officers after months of investigation.

A spokesman for Hyundai's battery joint venture, South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solutions said they were working together and had temporarily suspended construction work.

The facility, which is a joint venture between LGES and Hyundai Motor, is scheduled to start operating later this year, according to LGES.