When Joe Biden was in office, he touted a deal for a battery plant for EVs that would create American jobs in both construction and for the actual operation of the plant.
Yet, last week, ICE raided the plant that was under construction, and lo and behold, they arrested nearly 500 illegal immigrant workers.
Now, there is mass outrage over the fact that illegals were given these jobs over legal residents and citizens.
The factory in question is a Georgia battery plant that was under construction, which would eventually supply batteries for electric vehicles.
Biden, when he announced the factory, stated, "It’s great to be here to announce the more than $10 billion in new investment in American manufacturing.
"This new commitment of $5 billion for advanced automotive technology and $5.5 billion investment to open a new factory near Savannah, Georgia, is going to create more than 8,000 new American jobs.”
When Homeland Security reported on the raid, it announced that more than 450 illegal immigrants had been employed among those who were building the factory, primarily from South Korea.
After the arrests were announced, South Korea was outraged over the number of South Korean citizens who had been detained.
Kang Hoon-sik, Seoul’s presidential chief of staff, announced, “Our government, business associations and relevant companies worked as one to secure their release.”
The Koreans who were arrested were released and were reportedly voluntarily leaving the country.
I have to admit, this was not the response I expected, but I am speaking of the South Korean response to halt investment projects rather than being upset that its citizens were illegally entering our country.
Maik Peters, CEO of Pitco Engineering, said the quiet part out loud, stating, "We as an American company with legal workers are always cut out of those mega projects, because we are too expensive. Finally this problem gets addressed.”
James Surowiecki put this on Trump, stating, "Completely incredible. Lutnick and Trump brag about getting South Korea to invest billions in the U.S., then turn around and arrest South Koreans who were here temporarily in the U.S. to help Hyundai set up a factory in Georgia. The stupidity burns.”
First, they were not given temporary status, so they had no right to be here. And regarding the announcement, having the country invest here is huge, and worthy of talking about regardless of who did the deal, but Trump is also right to make sure these jobs are going to Americans, and if the South Korean company knowingly broke the law, it should be held accountable.
I think people keep missing the point. Every aspect of this plant was touted as a way to create American jobs, from construction to operation, and it is up to these companies to ensure that is the case. The fact that they were employing illegal immigrants is despicable, and I support the raid and deportation.
