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Hyundai CEO Says White House Apologized for ICE Raid at Georgia Battery Plant

Hyundai says its U.S. investment plans remain intact despite visa uncertainty exposed by the detentions.

Overview

  • José Muñoz said he received a call from the White House apologizing for the September operation and described the raid as an accident.
  • ICE detained 475 workers, including 317 South Korean nationals, at the HyundaiLG Energy Solution facility on Sept. 4, with images showing detainees in shackles.
  • Following negotiations between Washington and Seoul, the workers were released, with some returning to Korea and others resuming work at the plant.
  • The two governments formed a working group to address visa shortcomings highlighted by the case, though broader policy changes have not been detailed.
  • Hyundai reiterated a roughly $26 billion U.S. investment plan, while saying the Georgia plant faces a two- to three-month delay linked to labor shortages after the raid.