President Donald Trump expressed disappointment over the detention of Korean workers at a battery factory construction site in Georgia last September, emphasizing the need to bring in highly skilled technical personnel.
During an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on Tuesday, Trump responded to a question about reducing foreign professional visas (H-1B) to increase American workers’ wages. He agreed with the sentiment but stressed the importance of recruiting talent.
Trump firmly stated that certain skills are simply not available in the U.S. When host Laura Ingraham insisted that America has many talented individuals, Trump dismissed her claim and directly addressed the situation in Georgia.
He pointed out that in Georgia, there were Koreans who have been manufacturing batteries their entire lives. Trump added that battery production is extremely complex and hazardous. It’s very dangerous, with frequent explosions and numerous issues.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the enforcement actions, Trump said that they (Korean companies) brought in about 500 to 600 people initially to produce batteries and train Americans in the technology, but (the enforcement agency) tried to expel them from the country.
Last September, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on the construction site of a joint battery factory by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia, arresting and detaining 475 individuals, including approximately 300 Korean engineers.
These engineers had entered the country on short-term business visas (B-1) or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to set up factory equipment and train American employees. However, they were detained on allegations of illegal employment, handcuffed, and shackled.
Currently, over 200 of the affected individuals are preparing a class-action lawsuit against ICE, citing racial discrimination and human rights violations.
During his recent Asian tour, Trump also addressed the Georgia incident while speaking to reporters on his private jet. He stated that he was strongly opposed to (the enforcement). These are people who create incredibly sophisticated semiconductors and computers. It can’t expect unemployed individuals who haven’t worked for five years to perform such specialized tasks.