New york: The head of Hyundai Motor Co. expressed hope for South Korea and the United States to work out a "mutually beneficial" solution for skilled workers' short-term business travel to the U.S., following a U.S. immigration raid at its battery plant construction site in Georgia this month. Jose Munoz, the company's president and CEO, made the remarks at a public event, noting that many Korean workers, who were arrested in the Sept. 4 raid at the site for a joint Hyundai-LG Energy Solution venture, were involved in the final testing of advanced battery production technology.
According to Yonhap News Agency, U.S. immigration authorities arrested more than 310 South Korean workers in the crackdown, stating that they were found to be working illegally in the U.S., including those on short-term or recreational visas that bar them from working. They were released from detention on Sept. 11. Munoz emphasized the need for solutions regarding short-term business travel, especially for specialized technical expertise, during a New York event for global investors and analysts.
Munoz voiced his "sincere empathy" for the workers from Hyundai's partner companies who were detained in the crackdown. He acknowledged the stress and hardship caused to them and their families and expressed relief that they returned to Korea safely. Many of these workers were engaged in the final calibration and testing of advanced battery production technology at the Georgia facility.
Highlighting Hyundai's longstanding presence in the U.S., Munoz stated that the company has been "part of the fabric of the U.S." for nearly 40 years and has operated in Georgia for more than 15 years. He noted the significance of Hyundai's new facility in Georgia, representing the largest economic development project in the state's history, and emphasized its transformative potential for the region with long-term economic benefits.
The immigration crackdown has raised concerns in South Korea about the U.S. as a reliable investment destination. In response, South Korea has proposed establishing a working group with the U.S. to discuss a new visa category for skilled Korean workers, aiming to resolve visa-related issues that have hindered Korean tech firms' investment projects in the U.S.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump stated he does not wish to "frighten off" or "disincentivize" foreign investments, reiterating his desire for foreign firms, which are involved in building semiconductors, ships, and other "complex" products, to bring their workers into the U.S. to train American workers.