In an unprecedented move that has strained diplomatic ties, South Korea is dispatching officials to a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia, following a massive U.S. immigration raid that detained over 300 Korean nationals. This incident, detailed by the South Korean Foreign Ministry, has sparked significant concern from Seoul, prompting urgent communications with the U.S. embassy.

The raid, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and other agencies, resulted in over 475 arrests, primarily of Korean citizens. This operation is part of a broader investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices at the facility. HSI Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank emphasized that this was a meticulously planned criminal investigation, not a spontaneous immigration sweep.

"This has been a multi-month criminal investigation where we have developed evidence, conducted interviews, gathered documents, and presented that evidence to the court in order to obtain a judicial search warrant," Schrank explained at a press conference. He also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, no criminal charges have been announced as of yet.

The raid is currently the largest single-site enforcement operation in HSI's history. It comes amid broader scrutiny over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics. Just days before the raid, a federal judge ruled against President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles to quell anti-ICE protests, citing it as unlawful.

ICE's aggressive tactics, including accusations of detaining U.S. citizens and racial profiling, have drawn international criticism and legal challenges. The recent raid at the Hyundai-LG plant is another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and labor practices in the U.S.

As tensions simmer, the South Korean government has urged the U.S. to consider the broader implications of such raids on bilateral relations and respect for international economic activity. The outcome of this diplomatic engagement remains to be seen, as both nations navigate the complex terrain of immigration policy and international cooperation.