The Democratic Party in the United States criticized the incident where more than 300 Koreans were arrested at the construction site of the joint factory of Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Georgia as indiscriminate enforcement that undermines trust among allied nations. In contrast, the Republican Party defended the Trump administration, claiming it was a legitimate law enforcement action to protect American jobs. This enforcement seems to have brought deep-rooted political divisions in the United States to the surface, going beyond a simple immigration issue.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), a group of Asian Pacific members of Congress, issued a joint statement on the 6th (local time) alongside Democratic members of Congress from Georgia expressing deep concern over this situation. They reported, "Hundreds of immigrants, many of whom are of Korean descent, have been detained, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents." They further criticized, "The Trump administration is targeting immigrants in workplaces and communities of color to fulfill large-scale deportation quotas instead of focusing on violent criminals."
The statement was signed by 20 members, including Korean American Senator Andy Kim and Representative Marilyn Strickland. They stated, "Such indiscriminate actions tear families apart, harm the economy, and undermine trust with our global partners," and urged, "The administration must uphold fair legal processes for affected workers."
Within the Democratic Party, voices were raised calling for corporate accountability alongside the administration. Senator Raphael Warnock, whose district includes Georgia, pointed out, "Corporations must explain how they employed so many workers alleged to have improper documents." He emphasized that corporations should not profit from the exploitation of immigrant labor and stated that an explanation is needed on how this enforcement aligns with the administration's existing policy of wanting to eliminate "dangerous and violent criminals."
In contrast, the Republican Party made it clear that they support the crackdown in line with President Trump's statement that "immigration authorities have done their job." Buddy Carter, a Republican Congressman whose district is home to the Hyundai factory, wrote on social media platform X, "I applaud the Trump administration and brave law enforcement for taking bold action to prioritize American workers and protect our communities from the scourge of illegal immigration." He emphasized, "Anyone thinking they can take jobs from hardworking Americans and give them to illegal immigrants should know that as long as Trump is watching, that cannot happen."
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (Republican) also emphasized law enforcement principles. In a statement, Kemp said, "In Georgia, we will always enforce all state and federal laws," adding, "All corporations doing business in the state must comply with Georgia and Korea's laws."