Washington, September 10(HS): US business leaders are urging President Donald Trump to soften his hardline immigration enforcement after a record-breaking raid at a Hyundai-LG electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia swept up 475 workers, including nearly 300 South Koreans, sparking international backlash and economic concerns.
The Ellabell raid, the largest workplace immigration action in American history, has halted construction at the $7.6bn facility and provoked outrage in South Korea, where lawmakers and executives warned that the crackdown could chill future investment in the US. Business groups at home echoed those fears, warning the raid was creating uncertainty across sectors dependent on skilled foreign labor.
Jeff Wasden, president of State Business Executives, said the enforcement strategy was generating “fear” that threatened US growth. “We’ve got to turn the page,” he urged, calling for a shift from mass raids toward solutions to visa and workforce shortages.
South Korean media reported that many of the detainees had entered the US on temporary business visas, typically used for meetings, but not permitted for paid work. Companies have long complained about a lack of flexible visa options for short-term technical staff, unlike programs available to firms in countries such as Australia.
In response, Trump insisted foreign investment remained welcome but stressed that companies must “respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws” and prioritize hiring and training Americans. Border czar Tom Homan confirmed more workplace raids are planned, signaling no immediate retreat from the crackdown despite growing alarm.
Tensions are not new. Trump has long balanced business appeals for expanded visas with his political base’s demands to curb immigration. Recent raids have reignited friction within his coalition—from Silicon Valley executives advocating skilled migration to populist voices decrying it as a threat to US workers.
Economic advocates, including the National Immigration Forum, argue the costs of mass raids are beginning to speak for themselves, especially as projects stall and sectors from farming to hospitality face staffing crises. “The impact is starting to speak for itself,” said the forum’s chief executive Jennie Murray, who predicted shifting ground as economic consequences deepen.
Still, policy experts suggest Trump’s stance may not change unless business pressure grows more intense. “He’s highly tuned to pressure,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin of the American Action Forum, “but we haven’t seen that yet.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
