The raid on the Hyundai plant currently under construction in Georgia by the hyperactive Trump Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gestapo on Sept. 6, detaining 300 South Korean citizens and over 100 nationals of other countries, was denounced by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who said that many of those detained had entered the U.S. on short-term business visas or under the Visa Waiver Program. U.S. immigration authorities determined that their activities at the site did not match the purpose of their stay. This is particularly strange since Trump just concluded a deal with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to build more factories in the U.S.
“The economic activities of our investment firms and the rights of our citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon during U.S. law enforcement operations,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sept. 5, according to local media. “We have also conveyed our concerns and regret through the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, urging them to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of our citizens are fully protected.”
The ministry added that President Lee Jae-myung had ordered “an all-out response” to resolve the issue, with Seoul considering “trips to the U.S. by high-level officials.”
