Trump’s Hyundai Immigration Raid Hits U.S. Battery Industry

For all its efforts to push the local manufacturing boom in the main industries, the United States continues to rely heavily on Asian experience to build batteries, strong technologies that support drones, electric cars, and much more.

It was a fact that was naked last week when immigration officials in the United States raided the location of the EV Factory in Georgia and detained about 475 workers, most of whom were South Korea citizens. The factory is owned by Hyundai, a car maker in South Korea. The American authorities said that the raid was the largest enforcement operation in one locations in the history of the Ministry of Internal Security.

For all its efforts to lead a Local manufacturing boom In the main industries, the United States still relies heavily on Asian experience to build batteries, strong technologies that support drones, electric cars, and much more.

It is a fact that was set last week when the United States immigration officials raided the location of the EV Factory in Georgia and detained them around them 475 workersAnd most of them were South Korea citizens. The factory is owned by HyundaiSouth Korea car maker. The American authorities said that the raid was the largest The enforcement of a single sites In the history of the Ministry of Internal Security.

The raid ignited a diplomatic storm with South Korea, the ally for a long time and shed light on the US battery sector. The batteries are necessary to operate many of the most edges of defense and energy technologies in the world, including military aircraft aircraft and Submarines. However, the United States industry still relies heavily on foreign knowledge to develop its private sector, and experts warn that Hyundai Clackdown Riskdate in the Trump administration increases investment.

“We rely on foreign assistance to build and expand this technology,” said Chris Perry, President of House Mountain Partners, an independent metal analysis consultant company. “The workforce in the United States will not be able to build these types of technically detailed plants without foreign help.”

Experts said that it is not unusual for foreign companies to rely first on their own talent when leading operations at the beginning abroad and then training a local worker.

“The number of Korean employees initially, while transferring management technology, [is] “The fastest possible, they transfer this knowledge, then return to their homes, which is the lowest for the company,” said Tami Overbi, an international business adviser who was previously chaired by the US Business Council in the American Chamber of Commerce.

South Korean President Lee Jay Meong Similar point Thursday: “This is not always a long -term work but to create facilities and equipment for factories; We need technicians to install machines and equipment. The United States does not have such employees, and they will not submit visas [our workers] To stay and work. “ Washington warned that South Korean companies “”He hesitates to make direct investments “in the United States if you fail to solve visa problems quickly.

Hyundai case It has revealed the experience of manufacturing the US battery. Today, the world The largest battery power It is China, which produces more than three quarters of all batteries that are sold worldwide-which does this much more and efficiently than its global competitors-to the International Energy Agency (IEA). China is a source of more than 70 percent of all EV batteries that have been produced at all, leading to abundant experience in manufacturing and production.

After China, South Korea and Japan, they are global battery giants who have made great investments abroad. Korean companies in particular top the plans in the manufacturing capacity abroad, and last year, Korean producers filled more than 20 percent of the global demand for the electric car battery.

“The Koreans, the Japanese and the Chinese in particular really understand technology behind these batteries, chemistry, celebrations and negatives – but they also understand how to expand speed,” Perry said.

To feed an American battery mutation, the Biden administration has settled to the prominent climate bill, the IRA law, which used huge tax incentives to encourage Local manufacturing And pay new and interest investments in the sector. The Irish Republican Army was “the legislation to change the game”, Manish Dua, an analyst in the intelligence of standard metal, He said In 2023. “The huge expenses of tax subsidies and credits have strengthened the participation of the private sector through the entire clean technology space.”

US President Donald Trump has gone in another direction completely, with an attack of intended moves The intestine of the clean energy sector in the United Statesand Relax Many tax credits Biden, and launch more fossil fuel production. Trump administration Evs targeting– Injecting a main market for batteries – Fresh uncertainty in the American batteries sector, as well as its trade war with China, which dominates the batteries supply chains.

At the same time, the US Energy Ministry It announced up to $ 500 million In financing opportunities to enhance the manufacture of batteries and recycling, American auto companies are keen to push the United States to the vanguard of the battery race.

Early this year, General Motors Court Corte Kelli, North America, urged “to seize the EV battery from China.”

“Through the progress of batteries and innovation techniques, and the promotion of Bundna, and making our supply chain the most competitive in the world, we not only build better batteries, but we are the strongest and more flexible American industry,” He said.

American companies I have already made great steps in research and innovation of batteries, especially with the development of the new battery chemistry. But this is just one part of the battery equation.

“This is mainly what China is really good,” said Brian Bell, a policy expert in Al -Masish.

Days after the Hyundai raid, Trump admitted himself that there was a gap in the manufacture of American batteries that foreigners have helped. Trump said on Sunday. “Perhaps we should help them and let some people enter and train our people.”

“We have to work on something where we come with experts so that our employees can be trained so that they can do this themselves,” Trump added.

However, the rules of the American immigration and the Hyundai’s cave – which were sent Shock waves Through other Korean and international companies – the risk of deterring the investment that Trump was overlooked as part of his big plan to build us Manufacturing industry and Pushing To bring production to the United States. The United States lacks a visa program for foreign companies that want to bring skilled workers for a short -term period for construction purposes, Washington Post I mentioned.

The repercussions of the raid may already be. South Korea officials He said On Thursday, Trump offered to allow hundreds of workers detained to stay in the United States to train an American worker. Officials said only one Korean worker decided to stay.

Overbi said that many great foreign investors in the United States “have been shocked.” “It gives everyone a moment to take a breath and review the rules and regulations of compliance with immigration, not only for their employees but for contractors and contractors from the subconscious and everyone up and down in the supply chain.”

After the raid, the South Korean companies stopped working at least 22 project In the United States and President of Hyundai He said Bloomberg The accident led to a “delay of at least two months to three months” on the battery factory.

““I see it as special goals. We cut our nose to penetrate our face here in the United States,” Perry said.