Introduction to the Incident
Hyundai’s CEO, José Muñoz, was in his California office when he found out about the ICE raid at the Hyundai LG battery plant in Georgia through the news. He expressed his surprise, stating that he would normally have been informed about such an event.
The Raid and Its Aftermath
The raid, which took place at the beginning of the month, resulted in the detention of over 300 South Korean workers. They were later deported back to South Korea. Muñoz mentioned that the EV battery system in Ellabell, Georgia, is operated by the South Korean LG Energy Solution, which might explain why Hyundai was not immediately notified.
Communication with Governments
Muñoz has been in contact with the US government since the incident, and he believes that both the South Korean and US governments are working to prevent such situations from happening again. He expressed his sympathy to the detained workers and their families, acknowledging the stress and hardship they faced.
Impact on Business Operations
The raid is expected to delay the opening of the battery system, which is still under construction, by two to three months. Despite this, Hyundai is moving forward with its investment plans, including a $2.7 billion investment in the second phase of the Georgia complex, which will create 3,000 new jobs.
Challenges in Finding Specialized Workers
The deported workers were specialized employees in the joint venture battery plant. Muñoz noted that the company has had to move workers from other plants to compensate for the loss. He emphasized that the activities in this special battery factory require very specific specialist knowledge that is not readily available in the country.
Need for Special Visas
Muñoz suggested that foreign workers who are needed for special tasks should be eligible for a special visa, allowing them to enter the United States as needed. He pointed out that countries like Canada, Mexico, Singapore, and Chile do not have such visas for special workers in the US, including those from South Korea.
Concerns About Future Incidents
When asked if he was concerned about the possibility of such a raid happening again, Muñoz replied that nobody can say they are excluded from everything, implying that there is always a risk of unexpected events occurring.
