A raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a Georgia battery plant earlier this month pushed its opening date back by months, said Hyundai CEO Jose Muñoz.
Muñoz said he was surprised by news of the raid and rushed to find out if Hyundai workers were involved. The Hyundai CEO said it’s common to bring in specialized employees to oversee construction.
A White House spokesperson said in a statement to Fortune that the U.S. is proud to be a home for major investments.
“Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations. President Trump will continue delivering on his promise to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The U.S. is strategically important for the mid- to long-term, and our plans of investment continue, OK? But it’s something that needs to be resolved to be able to go fast,” Muñoz said.
