An Apology Following a Politically Charged Raid
Hyundai CEO Jose Muñoz says a senior White House official contacted him to apologize after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at the company’s Savannah, Georgia, factory led to significant political scrutiny and international criticism. The operation resulted in hundreds of Korean workers being detained, raising questions about coordination between federal agencies and the administration.
White House Denies Advance Knowledge
According to Muñoz, the White House official said the administration had no advance knowledge that the raid was going to take place. The comment came shortly after reports that roughly 200 of the detained workers are preparing legal action against ICE over how the operation was conducted.
State Officials Also Distance Themselves
Muñoz said Georgia’s governor also reached out to him, expressing confusion about how the raid unfolded and noting the state had no authority over the federal operation. Muñoz suggested misinformation may have contributed to the raid, indicating someone may have inaccurately portrayed the workers as undocumented.
Questions Remain Over Worker Visa Status
Uncertainty remains over how many of the South Korean workers brought in to help set up the plant held appropriate visas. Some reportedly were in the country on short-term or recreational visas that didn’t authorize employment, while others held proper work authorization. More than 300 workers were detained in total, with several describing overcrowded conditions, inadequate sleeping arrangements, and unsafe drinking water during the week they were held. One worker alleged verbal abuse from guards during detention.
Trump’s Involvement and the Workers’ Return
In the aftermath, President Donald Trump reportedly urged the detained workers to remain in the United States to continue training American staff at the plant, though that effort never materialized. Despite Trump’s own criticism of how the raid was handled, the workers were ultimately sent back to South Korea.