Foreign Investors Alarmed After U.S. Immigration Raid Arrests 300 South Korean Workers

Washington, D.C. / Georgia – September 5, 2025 – A sweeping immigration raid in Georgia has sent shockwaves through the international business community after U.S. authorities arrested more than 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai–LG battery plant construction site.

The operation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 4, saw 457 suspected undocumented workers detained, including over 300 South Koreans. Videos released by ICE showed workers in handcuffs and leg restraints being escorted onto prisoner transport buses, sparking outrage in South Korea and concern among foreign investors.

Visa Abuse Allegations

ICE stated that the workers had misused B-1 business visas or visa waiver programs, which normally allow only short-term visits, not employment. Immigration lawyers argue that the rules around such visas remain vague, and some questioned whether ICE had overstepped its authority.

Charles Kuck, an Atlanta-based immigration lawyer, said many of the detained workers had been contracted to install equipment for the facility, a task arguably within the scope of their visas. “Foreign companies with major U.S. operations are now asking how to prepare if ICE agents show up at their plants,” he noted.

Investor Anxiety Grows

The raid has rattled multinational corporations operating in the U.S. with large foreign workforces. Law firms report a surge in calls from clients worried about potential risks to executives and employees under company-sponsored visas.

Tami Overby, former head of the U.S.–Korea Business Council, said some global companies have even halted sending staff to the U.S. until they fully assess the legal fallout. “The sight of hundreds of South Korean workers treated like criminals is shocking—not just in Seoul, but also in Japan, Taiwan, and other trade partners with heavy investments in the U.S.,” she warned.

Political and Economic Fallout

The Biden administration has stepped up workplace raids, echoing earlier Trump-era crackdowns. Tom Homan, immigration adviser to President Donald Trump, told CNN that more workplace raids would follow, arguing that hiring undocumented foreign workers drives down U.S. wages.

In South Korea, images of Hyundai and LG employees in shackles triggered anger and a sense of betrayal. Analysts say the incident could strain U.S.–South Korea relations, at a time when Seoul has pledged to invest $350 billion in U.S. industries as part of a recent trade agreement.

“This episode risks leaving lasting damage to America’s reputation as a reliable partner,” said John Delury, senior fellow at the Asia Society.

Meanwhile, industries reliant on foreign technical talent—including battery manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductors—are bracing for closer scrutiny. Taiwan’s TSMC, which is investing $165 billion in new U.S. plants, said it views the Georgia raid as an “isolated case,” though executives admitted it has made foreign businesses more cautious.

A Climate of Fear

Immigration lawyer Robert Loughran described the raid as creating “an atmosphere of fear” at factories employing foreign nationals. He noted that ICE agents, once mostly reactive, are now encouraged to proactively seek out visa violations.

“Frankly, they have plenty of targets,” Loughran said.

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Source: Vietnam Insider