Did Trump Call Workers Arrested at S. Korean Battery Plant 'Illegal Aliens'?

Washington, Sep 6 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has labeled hundreds of workers detained during a recent raid at a South Korean battery plant construction site in Georgia as 'illegal aliens', emphasizing that immigration officials were 'simply executing their duties'.

Trump made these statements during a press briefing following the confirmation from U.S. authorities that Thursday's operation at the electric vehicle battery construction site, managed by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution Ltd. in Bryan County, led to the arrest of 475 individuals, with a significant portion being South Koreans, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

'I just learned about that shortly before the media session', Trump mentioned at the White House, responding to a query about the raid, which is part of his administration's stringent immigration policy.

'I would categorize them as illegal aliens, and ICE was merely fulfilling their responsibilities', he added, referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

During the briefing, Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia, confirmed that the workers were apprehended as part of a search warrant execution associated with a criminal investigation into allegations of 'unlawful employment practices and serious federal offenses.'

'This investigation resulted in the apprehension of 475 individuals and focuses on ensuring accountability for law violators and upholding the rule of law', he stated.

A diplomatic representative in Seoul indicated that over 300 of the detained individuals are South Korean nationals.

Schrank elaborated that the 475 individuals were unlawfully present in the United States, including some who crossed the border illegally, some who entered via a visa waiver program that prohibits employment, and others who overstayed their visas.

The detained individuals included subcontractors from various companies, with those illegally present now under the custody of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Most detainees were taken to the Folkston Immigration Detention Center in Folkston, Georgia, on Thursday evening, with plans to relocate them based on individual circumstances, according to officials.

When queried about any reported injuries during the raid, authorities stated there was no 'significant use of force' and no injuries except for one individual who 'overheated' and an agent who sustained a minor cut.

Authorities touted the raid as 'the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations.'

In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia noted that during the execution of the search warrant, several individuals attempted to escape the scene.

'A few individuals jumped into a sewage pond on the property, and agents utilized a boat to retrieve them from the water', it stated. 'One individual swam under the boat and attempted to capsize it, but to no avail. These individuals were apprehended and identified as illegal workers.'

U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap stated in the release, 'The objective of this operation is to diminish illegal employment and prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring unauthorized workers. Another objective is to safeguard unauthorized workers from exploitation.'

The office reiterated that 'all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.'

South Korea's foreign ministry expressed 'concern and regret' over the raid, stressing that the rights of individuals should not be unduly infringed.

Hyundai Motor America stated that, based on current information, none of those detained are directly employed by Hyundai Motor.

'Hyundai is dedicated to full compliance with all laws and regulations in every market where we operate. This commitment includes adhering to employment verification requirements and immigration laws.' the company remarked in a statement.

The company affirmed it will conduct an investigation to ensure all suppliers and subcontractors comply with all laws and regulations, emphasizing its zero tolerance for legal violations.