'Respect laws': Trump backs ICE raid at Hyundai plant, urges firms to bring in workers 'legally'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Sunday, September 7, that the US should consider allowing foreign experts to temporarily stay to train Americans in advanced industries, as he backed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for arresting South Korean immigrants working illegally at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia.

Homeland Security Investigations revealed that 475 people were arrested at the under-construction battery plant. Hyundai acknowledged that it owns the site but insisted the workers were directly employed by the company.

Trump says 'we’re going to have to train people'

Trump told reporters that the US needs experts who know how to build batteries to help train Americans who lack such experience.

He said, "If you don’t have people in this country right now that know about batteries, maybe we should help them along," and added that industries like shipbuilding and computer manufacturing also need skilled trainers.

"So, we’re going to look at that whole situation. We have a lot of industries that we don’t have any more, and we’re going to have to train people," the POTUS added. 

He further explained that the best way to train people is to bring in experts who know what they are doing and allow them to stay in the US for a short period to help. Despite this, Trump added that ICE was right to arrest those in the country illegally.

"We do have to work something out where we bring in experts so that our people can be trained so that they can do it themselves," the POTUS added.

Meanwhile, Trump later urged foreign companies investing in the US to respect immigration laws while pledging to make it "quickly and legally possible" for them to bring in skilled workers, as he wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump wrote, "Following the Immigration Enforcement Operation on the Hyundai Battery Plant in Georgia, I am hereby calling on all Foreign Companies investing in the United States to please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws."

He added, "Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so."

"What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers. Together, we will all work hard to make our Nation not only productive, but closer in unity than ever before. Thank you for your attention to this matter!," the president mentioned.

The South Korean government reached a deal with the US on Sunday to secure the release of migrant workers detained at the factory. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's office stated that South Korea will send a charter plane to bring the workers back in the coming days.

However, South Korea’s government still expressed "concern and regret" over the raid.

Internet sides with Donald Trump

Several internet users sided with Donald Trump after he said the US should consider allowing foreign experts to temporarily stay and train Americans in advanced industries. 

An online comment read, "Skilled training paired with legal expertise can boost innovation while building a stronger US workforce," while another added, "I agree with the president regarding people coming here to work LEGALLY. Not sure if Americans need to be trained or not, but the fact is, if they do need specialized trained they should get it."

One person also stated, "It's nice to have a President who represents America for a change," whereas another mentioned, "This needed to happen."

A user wrote, "Lack of expert tradesmen is the reason we are behind the 8 ball on technical manufacturing. This is why investment in Trade Schools is so important," while someone else commented, "Bring people over on 6 month work visas. Train Americans to do the jobs."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.