President Donald Trump addressed a major immigration operation on Sunday. He acknowledged the need for enforcement but also highlighted a pressing issue — training American workers in advanced industries.
Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 475 workers at a battery plant in Georgia. The majority of those arrested were South Koreans. Homeland Security Investigations stated the workers were found at an under-construction Hyundai battery facility.
Although Hyundai owns the site, the company claimed it had not directly employed the detained individuals. Most were contractors or subcontractors. When asked about the incident, Trump backed ICE’s actions. However, he emphasized a broader economic concern. He said the U.S. lacks skilled workers in industries like battery technology, shipbuilding, and electronics manufacturing.
“If you don’t have battery experts here, maybe we should help them along,” Trump said during a media event. He stressed that the best way to train American workers is to temporarily bring in foreign specialists. He added, “You can’t build an industry without trainers. We need those experts, even if just for a while.”
Trump reiterated his view that law enforcement must uphold immigration laws. Still, he argued that legal options should exist for companies to bring in skilled professionals. “We must find a way to legally bring in experts,” Trump said. “We need them to train American workers for the future.”
Later on Truth Social, Trump addressed foreign companies directly. He welcomed investment but urged them to follow immigration rules. He promised a streamlined system to help firms bring in talent legally.
“Your investments are welcome,” Trump wrote. “Bring your very smart people — legally to help build world-class products.” He ended his message with a strong call to action: “Hire and train American workers. Build our economy. Unite our nation.”
Meanwhile, South Korea secured a deal with U.S. officials. It will soon fly home hundreds of detained citizens using a chartered aircraft. President Lee Jae Myung’s office expressed regret over the incident but cooperated with U.S. authorities.
Homeland Security Investigations chief Steven Schrank explained that some workers had overstayed visas. Others entered through visa waivers that barred employment. Most worked through subcontractors.
This Georgia raid is one of the largest workplace crackdowns under Trump’s leadership. It reflects his broader immigration enforcement strategy while raising urgent questions about America’s skilled labor shortages. As industries evolve, the message from Trump remains clear: train American workers now — or fall behind.
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