Trump tells foreign firms in US to hire and train Americans
US President Donald Trump has called on foreign companies operating in the country to prioritize hiring and training Americans a
ATLANTA, United States (MNTV) — US President Donald Trump has called on foreign companies operating in the country to prioritize hiring and training Americans after a record-breaking immigration raid at a Hyundai–LG battery plant in Georgia detained nearly 500 workers.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said the Sept. 4 operation was the largest single-site enforcement action in its history. More than 300 South Korean nationals — including engineers and instructors — and nearly 200 Latino workers were detained.
Images of shackled workers being loaded onto buses aired widely in South Korea, fueling political uproar and investor anxiety.
“Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws,” Trump said. He added that foreign firms are welcome to bring in specialized talent legally but must also “hire and train American Workers.”
Speaking later to reporters, Trump said: “I would say that they were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson echoed the president, saying Trump remained committed to attracting global investment while ensuring “any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations.”
South Korea confirmed that its 300 nationals detained in the raid will be released and flown home on chartered flights after reaching agreement with Washington. Chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said only administrative steps remain.
The raid has already disrupted business plans. According to Korean media, LG Energy has postponed the launch of electric vehicle battery production at the Georgia facility until 2026, while Hyundai has barred staff from traveling to the US. Samsung Electronics has also tightened restrictions on US business trips under the ESTA program.
The crackdown came just weeks after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Trump in Washington, where they highlighted a trade pact and pledged billions in new investment. Seoul had committed $150 billion in direct US spending, now cast into doubt.
Hyundai and Kia, which depend on the Georgia plant to supply batteries for their growing EV lineups, said it was too early to assess the raid’s long-term impact.
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