U.S. Political Divide Over Hyundai-LG Plant Raid: Democrats Call It "Political Attack," Republicans Defend "Legitimate Enforcement"

Twenty Democratic Lawmakers, Including Andy Kim, Issue Joint Statement
Republican Carter Applauds Actions to Stop Illegal Immigration

The recent incident in which approximately 300 Koreans were detained by immigration authorities at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia has drawn mixed reactions from the U.S. political sphere.

AFP Yonhap News

On September 6 (local time), Democratic lawmakers belonging to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), along with Democratic members of the Georgia House of Representatives, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the large-scale immigration raid conducted on September 4.

In their statement, they said, "It is reported that hundreds of immigrants, including Korean workers, have been detained, and among them are U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents." They criticized, "The Trump administration is pursuing mass deportation targets by raiding workplaces and communities of color, rather than focusing on violent criminals." They further stated, "Such reckless actions tear families apart, harm the economy, and damage trust with global partners," urging the administration to "ensure due process for the affected workers."

The statement was signed by 20 lawmakers, including Korean American Senator Andy Kim and Representative Marilyn Strickland.

Some have raised concerns that this raid may have been politically motivated, targeting the previous Biden administration. The plant in question was announced for construction by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun during President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea in 2022. President Biden also visited the site during last year's presidential campaign to highlight his achievements in creating manufacturing jobs.

Georgia State Representative Sam Park, a Democrat, criticized the raid as a "politically motivated attack" on Georgia workers and families, stating, "By targeting the very people building our clean energy future, families are being separated." He emphasized, "Georgia's prosperity depends not on criminalizing workers, but on protecting them."

On the other hand, voices from the Republican Party have defended the raid.

Buddy Carter, a Republican U.S. Representative for the district where the Hyundai plant is located, posted on X (formerly Twitter) the previous day, "I applaud the bold actions taken by the Trump administration and our brave law enforcement officers to put American workers first and protect our communities from the disaster of illegal immigration." He added, "If anyone thinks they can take jobs away from hardworking Americans and hand them over to illegal immigrants, they should know that as long as Donald Trump is here, that will never happen."