US President
Donald Trump’s ambitious ‘Made-in-USA’ dream is facing hurdles created by his own administration’s actions. The recent immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery facility in Georgia is an example of how Trump’s crackdown on immigrants and move to create jobs in the US, may actually face big hurdles, for now.
Law enforcement officials have taken 475 individuals into custody at the complex, and according to reports, LG Energy Solution has postponed the commencement of operations at the facility to the first half of 2026. As reported by Yonhap on Monday, immigration authorities have presented the detained individuals with two alternatives: accept deportation with a five-year ban on re-entry, or remain in detention pending trial.
According to a Bloomberg report, industry analysts note that these large-scale manufacturing initiatives, which Trump highlights as achievements in domestic job creation, are encountering difficulties due to immigration enforcement targeting their essential workforce.
"Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so," Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday, emphasising that whilst the US welcomes foreign investment and skilled workers, proper legal procedures must be followed.
Trump has expressed his desire to facilitate the training of US workers by bringing in battery plant specialists.
Over the weekend, Korean authorities endeavoured to facilitate the release of 300 detained nationals at a Hyundai Motor Co.-LG Energy Solution Ltd. joint venture construction site, according to Lee's chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik during a high-level meeting between government officials and the ruling Democratic Party.
The visa status of the workers and their legal authorisation to work at the site remains uncertain.
South Korean companies jittery about US
The enforcement action, despite being unusual in its magnitude and the type of workers affected, is creating anxiety among Hyundai's industry counterparts, including Samsung Electronics Co. and SK On Co., who have also pledged substantial investments in the United States.
The timing is also sensitive, following the meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Trump that highlighted their partnership and cemented a fresh trade agreement. The arrangement incorporated a $350 billion fund to assist South Korean companies growing their presence in the US, allocating $150 billion specifically for shipbuilding ventures. Additionally, private sector organisations committed $150 billion for direct investment in the US.
South Korean conglomerates are working to manage the aftermath, raising apprehension about planned investments worth billions of dollars.
The extensive operation caused distress amongst South Koreans when footage emerged showing workers in shackles at the waist, ankles and wrists. This action, part of a larger US initiative against undocumented workers, occurred shortly after a summit between Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump that highlighted their partnership.
"The Georgia episode demonstrates that managing this hurdle with higher tariffs and tighter labor supply will not be an easy task," said Homin Lee, a senior macro strategist at Lombard Odier Singapore Ltd., discussing the blanket 15% import duty from the Asian nation. "We expect South Korea to push for pragmatic tweaks in US visa rules to keep the economic viability of many marquee capex projects,” Homin Lee was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
The presence of South Korean specialists, engineers and sub-contractors is essential for these projects' success. Any restrictions on their movement could potentially disrupt manufacturing schedules, increase expenses and diminish the intended industrial growth. This situation could also affect Hyundai's production expansion plans in Georgia.
"Mass production in the first half of 2026 is virtually impossible due to the departure of key personnel during the installation and commissioning phase," said Anna Lee, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea in Seoul.
This enforcement action has introduced uncertainty regarding South Korea's extensive US investment plans. The incident involving workers at a major Korean investment project might signal to other companies that US operations carry heightened political and regulatory challenges.
The US work visa problems
These multibillion-dollar facilities require substantial numbers of international engineers and contractors, yet organisations like Hyundai and LG face considerable obstacles in securing appropriate visas for their specialist personnel.
Under Trump's administration, Korean companies in the US have faced difficulties securing work visas, sources told Bloomberg. Particularly, subcontractors have experienced significant visa processing delays, hampering on-site technical discussions and coordination of visits.
These staff members, particularly engineers with production line design knowledge, are considered indispensable, according to a battery sector representative. However, local recruitment remains viable for electrical work and basic technical support roles.
Immigration enforcement actions draw attention to an ongoing challenge in US-South Korean relations: the significant gap between trade and immigration regulations.
South Korea, despite maintaining a free trade agreement with the US since 2012, lacks a dedicated visa allocation, unlike other FTA nations. Whilst Australia, Singapore and Chile enjoy specific visa quotas, and Canada and Mexico operate without limitations under the Treaty National visa scheme, as legal practitioners note. This disparity creates considerable tension for Seoul, revealing a substantial flaw in the economic partnership between the nations.
The core challenge stems from US work permit regulations.
The H-1B visa category, which maintains an annual limit of 85,000 permits and operates via a random selection process, presents significant obstacles. South Korean organisations struggle to obtain necessary authorisations, typically securing merely 2,000 visas yearly. This limitation has led some Korean enterprises and their associated contractors to utilise B-1 business visas or ESTA for employment activities, according to immigration specialists. These particular visas, however, are exclusively designated for business gatherings or leisure travel, explicitly forbidding any form of employment.
According to Monday's Korean media coverage, citing anonymous industry insiders, approximately 30% of B-1 visa applicants succeed, with deployment taking four to five months post-approval. The extensive application process includes corporate invitation letters, contractual documents, CVs and interviews. This has led workers to adopt a pattern of 70-80 day ESTA-based work periods followed by departures and returns, as reported by Chosun Ilbo.
"The incident is likely to exacerbate the shortages of legally qualified skilled workers and increase labor cost pressures, which in turn would result in project delays and cost increases across major US construction projects," Eugene Investment & Securities Co. analyst Ryu Tae-hwan said. "Companies' ability to procure and manage labor in America may emerge as a key factor for project execution."