LONDON (AP) — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem voiced confidence on Monday that the recent detention of hundreds of South Koreans in a significant immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will not deter foreign investment in the United States.
During a meeting in London with ministers from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership, which includes allies Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Noem emphasized that the decisive actions taken reflect a clear and unwavering policy from the Trump administration.
The raid, which took place on September 4, led to the detention of 475 workers, with more than 300 of them being South Korean nationals. This action has reportedly left many in South Korea feeling confused, shocked, and betrayed by their ally’s actions.
“This is a great opportunity for us to make sure that all companies are reassured that when you come to the United States, you’ll know what the rules of the game are,” said Noem. She addressed reporters while attending discussions about border security at an 18th-century venue in London.
Noem encouraged companies interested in investing in the U.S. to employ American citizens and to bring individuals who respect American immigration laws.
Regarding the detained Koreans, Noem stated that almost all would be deported due to their violation of removal orders, while “a few” face consequences for other criminal activities.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has just assumed her position following a Cabinet reshuffle, welcomed Noem and other Five Eyes ministers to the meeting, where the primary focus was on countering illegal migration, addressing child sexual abuse, and combating the spread of opioids.
Mahmood remarked that the collaborative discussions aimed to formulate new measures to tighten border security against traffickers and smugglers.
While these nations are allied, they also grapple with differing challenges and strategies regarding immigration. The Trump administration’s stance, which includes aggressive street raids and mass deportations, has faced significant criticism both domestically and internationally, often resulting in legal disputes.
Noem expressed that recent tough immigration measures by the U.S. serve as a source of inspiration to other countries, providing a potential template for them to follow in dealing with similar issues.
She dismissed any notions of a pause in a proposed plan to expand immigration raids or to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, despite facing resistance from some local officials. “Nothing’s on hold. Everything is full speed ahead,” Noem asserted, adding that operations to secure the nation can be carried out daily as necessary.
Attendees at the discussions included Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, and Judith Collins, the attorney general and defense minister of New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the U.K. continues to grapple with the ongoing issue of migrant crossings in the English Channel, as the number of individuals making the perilous journey in small boats has surpassed 30,000 this year.
The British government, led by its center-left Labour agenda, faces mounting pressure from opposition parties to amend policies to reduce these crossings. Some have called for the government to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights to enforce stricter immigration measures, a step that the current government has indicated it will not take, though it may seek to reinterpret the Convention under British law.
Efforts have been made to establish cooperation with France for the return of migrants who cross the Channel, with the U.K. also pursuing similar deals with additional nations.
Mahmood highlighted a potential strategy stating that the U.K. might suspend visa issuance to countries that refuse to repatriate their citizens lacking legal residency in Britain, without identifying any specific nations at this time.
“We do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules, and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you do need to take them back,” Mahmood concluded, underscoring a commitment to international cooperation in immigration matters.
image source from：pbs
