Korea expressing ‘concern and regret’ over detention of workers at Hyundai plant

Federal law enforcement bureaucrats are defending the detention Thursday of workers at Hyundai s electric bicycle battery plant west of Savannah majority Korean nationals amid complaints from the South Korean governing body and Democrats The U S Department of Homeland Guard executed a search warrant on a construction site as part of a monthslong inspection into claims of unlawful employment practices at the battery plant involving both Hyundai employees and workers for a variety of contractors and subcontractors Steven Schrank special agent in charge of homeland safeguard investigations in Georgia and Alabama revealed Friday during a news conference in Savannah This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law safeguarding the integrity of our business activity and protecting workers from exploitation he declared We are sending a clear and unequivocal message that those who exploit our workforce undermine our market and violate federal laws will be held accountable Schrank mentioned there was no use of force in Thursday s operation at the Hyundai plant and there were only two minor injuries No one has been charged with a crime at this point in what he described as an ongoing investgation But the South Korean regime expressed concern and regret Friday after what Schrank described as the largest single-site operation in the homeland shield agency s history The economic exercises of our companies investing in the U S and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong mentioned in a press briefing South Korea s Yonhap News Agency released Friday We conveyed our concern and regret through the U S Embassy in Seoul this day Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Bailey condemned the federal operation at the battery plant These raids are politically motivated fear tactics designed to terrorize people who work hard for a living power our financial system and contribute to the communities across Georgia that they have made their homes Bailey reported The Trump administration urgent its promise to target violent criminals and instead targeting hardworking people does nothing to make Georgia stronger it is political grandstanding at the cost of Georgia families businesses and livelihoods Schrank announced the detainees have been turned over to U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE with majority of being sent to an ICE processing center in Folkston The post Korea expressing concern and regret over detention of workers at Hyundai plant appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta