Trump Defends Hyundai ICE Raid While Opening Door to Legal Skilled Immigration

President Donald Trump is making it clear America will not tolerate illegal labor, but smart, legal immigration to support U.S. industry is on the table especially when it comes to rebuilding our once-great manufacturing base.

On Sunday, Trump weighed in on the massive ICE operation that resulted in the arrest of 475 illegal immigrant workers mostly South Koreans at a Hyundai-owned electric battery plant under construction in Georgia. It’s one of the largest worksite raids under his administration and a sharp signal to foreign companies: Follow our laws, or face the consequences.

“We do have to work something out where we bring in experts so that our people can be trained,” Trump said. “But ICE was right to arrest those in the country illegally.”

The president struck a balance that’s been missing in Washington for decades. Secure the border. Enforce the law. But be smart and strategic when it comes to foreign talent.

What Trump’s Doing Differently:

• Zero tolerance for illegal labor even when tied to major foreign investors.

• Support for temporary, legal entry of skilled foreign experts to train American workers in high-tech sectors like battery manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductors.

• A call to foreign companies: Invest in America, hire Americans, follow the rules.

Trump later took to Truth Social to expand on his stance:

“Your investments are welcome… We encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products… What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”

This kind of balanced immigration policy lawful, merit-based, and rooted in American interests stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s border chaos. Under Biden:

• Over 6.9 million illegal crossings have been recorded.

• Workplace enforcement has collapsed, with a 90% drop in employer audits.

• Foreign nationals face virtually no consequence for overstaying visas or working illegally until Trump’s team steps back in.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government scrambled to manage the fallout, expressing “concern and regret” over the raid while arranging charter flights to deport the detained workers back home. The South Korean President’s office confirmed hundreds would be repatriated within days.

But Homeland Security Investigations wasn’t backing down. Director Steven Schrank confirmed that many workers overstayed visas or entered under non-work waivers, while others simply crossed the border illegally. Most were employed by third-party subcontractors, a common tactic used to shield major corporations from accountability.

This raid is a reminder that corporate globalism doesn’t override American law. And under President Trump, it never will.

“We have a lot of industries that we don’t have anymore,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to train people.”

If you want to do business in America, respect America’s laws. If you need experts to train our workers, we’ll make it legally possible but you must hire and invest in Americans.

With 2024 around the corner, Trump is proving once again that immigration policy doesn’t have to be open-borders or closed-minded. It can be lawful, logical, and America First.

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