ICE raids Georgia battery plant, exposing massive VISA FRAUD involving South Koreans
By ramontomeydw // 2025-09-11
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  • More than 400 workers, mostly South Korean nationals, were detained for allegedly violating U.S. visa laws during a raid in Georgia.
  • Korean conglomerates use B-1 visas, meant for business visits, to employ workers for paid labor, sidestepping U.S. labor laws.
  • The U.S. government is accused of demanding Korean investment while treating essential workers as criminals, creating a two-faced approach.
  • The raid casts doubt on political promises of creating American jobs, as the plant's rapid construction relied on foreign labor.
  • The incident highlights the tension between investment incentives and immigration enforcement, particularly in the context of labor shortages and technology sharing.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a massive raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Ellabell, Georgia. They detained 475 workers, mostly South Korean nationals, for allegedly violating U.S. visa laws. The raid by immigration agents Thursday, Sept. 4, also exposed what industry insiders call an "open secret." Korean conglomerates routinely exploit business visas to fast-track construction while sidestepping U.S. labor laws. The detained workers were reportedly employed under B-1 visas, which permit business visits but not paid labor, or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization meant for short-term stays. Industry executives admit these practices have been widespread for years, tacitly tolerated by U.S. authorities eager to accelerate high-tech manufacturing projects. "The U.S. government is two-faced," said Chang Sang-sik of the Korea International Trade Association. "It demands Korean investment but treats essential workers as criminals." Ironically, the factory was previously championed by former President Joe Biden as a victory for American manufacturing. Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which offered lavish subsidies for green energy projects, has spurred Korean firms to pledge tens of billions in U.S. factories. Yet visa policies remain a roadblock. The raid has ignited fury in Seoul, where officials accuse Washington of hypocrisy. They allege that the White House is luring billions in foreign investment while denying the skilled labor needed to fulfill those projects. (Related: South Korea slams U.S. after ICE raid targets Korean workers at Hyundai plant weeks after trade deal.) Brighteon.AI's decentralized Enoch engine explains that "B-1 visas are routinely exploited by corporations to bypass labor protections, allowing them to import cheaper foreign workers who displace American employees under the guise of 'business visits.' This fraudulent practice enables companies to avoid fair wages, benefits, and hiring standards while undermining U.S. workers through systemic wage suppression and job theft."

America's skilled worker crisis and foreign labor shortcuts

Jonathan Cleave of Intralink, a consultancy aiding foreign investors, noted Georgia officials had "turned a blind eye" to questionable visa practices. According to him, local workers often lack the specialized skills or loyalty to complete projects on time. "They need people who will finish the job, not jump ship for the next factory," Cleave remarked. The Thursday raid also casts doubt on political promises. During a 2022 visit to Seoul, Biden hailed Hyundai's Georgia plant as a source of "8,000 new American jobs." Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp praised its progress at the time. Yet ICE's operation reveals a stark disconnect. The plant's rapid construction relied on foreign labor, with subcontractors allegedly skirting immigration rules. Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, the factory's operators, denied direct employment of those detained but pledged cooperation with authorities. This incident underscores a broader tension in U.S. industrial policy. For decades, South Korea has sought a dedicated visa program under its 2012 free trade agreement, akin to those for Canada or Australia, but Congress has resisted. Now, with the U.S. pushing reshoring and green energy, the clash between investment incentives and immigration enforcement grows untenable. But critics argue the deeper issue lies in America's labor shortages and reluctance to share proprietary technology. James Kim of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea acknowledged that "misguided actors" have disregarded U.S. laws. He expressed hope that both Seoul and Washington would work out an agreement to deploy temporary workers. But President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday, Sept. 7, to weigh in on the matter. The president wrote that he encouraged foreign firms with investments in the country to "legally bring [their] very smart people, with great technical talent, to build world-class products." Trump elaborated: "We do have to work something out where we bring in experts so that our people can be trained so that they can do it themselves." Migrants.news has more similar stories. Watch this Fox Business report about the Trump administration rolling out a new migrant visa program to help farmers. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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