U.S. Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant Shakes Business and Diplomacy

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Corey Bullard/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP

In early September, U.S. federal authorities carried out a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG electric vehicle and battery plant construction site in Georgia. The operation resulted in the detention of roughly 475 individuals, including more than 300 South Korean nationals. The scale of the raid made it the largest single-site enforcement action in Department of Homeland Security history. Most of those arrested were subcontractor employees, many working under B-1 or ESTA visas not authorized for labor, rather than directly employed by Hyundai.

Constructed as part of a $7.6 billion investment, the plant was envisioned as a major economic accelerator for rural Georgia. As a joint venture, the Hyundai-LG facility was expected to hire thousands and become a centerpiece in the state’s push for green energy leadership.

South Korea swiftly intervened. Government officials negotiated a deal to repatriate over 300 of its detained citizens, with a chartered flight arranged for their return once administrative steps were completed. South Korea’s Foreign Minister also headed to Washington for ongoing discussions.

The raid has sparked growing concern over the treatment of foreign technical workers under stricter U.S. immigration rules raising doubts about the future of similar investments and projects dependent on such employees. Many questioned whether current visa categories, such as the limited H-1B, adequately support the technical staffing needs of high-skill infrastructure projects.

The fallout has also strained U.S.–South Korea business relations. South Korea, alarmed by the enforcement and its implications, called for visa reforms such as a specialized skilled-worker category to prevent such disruptions in future cases. Hyundai and LG pledged to review and improve their employment practices to reduce legal risk.

For Georgia, the incident poses a significant political and economic challenge. Governor Brian Kemp’s ambition to transform the state into an electric mobility hub now faces new headwinds. While the project had garnered billions in investment and construction incentives, it now also risks becoming a cautionary tale amid tense immigration enforcement.

In Washington, administration officials signaled further workplace enforcement actions might follow. Meanwhile, experts and business leaders warn that without more transparent and functional visa pathways, the U.S. could deter foreign companies from investing in projects requiring skilled international labor.

Trump Signals Diplomacy With Putin Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Bart jensen

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is facing growing political pressure over his decades long investment history in China, drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who has publicly called for Tan’s resignation, labeling him “highly conflicted.”

Tan, who became CEO of Intel in March 2025, built a formidable reputation in the tech and venture capital world through Walden International, a firm he founded in San Francisco in the 1980s. Over more than three decades, Walden invested over $5 billion in 600+ companies, with more than 100 of those investments based in China including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), where Tan served on the board for 15 years.

As U.S.-China tech tensions deepen, scrutiny of Tan’s past ties has intensified. In a recent social media post, Trump accused Tan of being “highly conflicted” and urged him to step down, citing concerns over national security and past board roles at Chinese companies. U.S. lawmakers have echoed similar sentiments, including Senator Tom Cotton, who raised questions about Tan’s suitability to lead Intel in a letter to the company’s chairman.

In response, Intel reaffirmed its commitment to U.S. national and economic security. “Tan and the board are deeply committed to advancing U.S. interests,” the company said in a statement. Tan also responded directly in a letter to Intel employees, asserting that he has “the full backing of the company’s board” and that he is “engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts.”

Tan, a Malaysia-born Mandarin speaker, led Walden’s aggressive push into East Asia's chip industry when most VCs avoided it. Under his leadership, Walden became one of the earliest backers of SMIC, now China's top chipmaker and a key player aligned with tech giant Huawei.

In 2020, SMIC was added to the U.S. Commerce Department's entity list for its alleged ties to the Chinese military, effectively restricting its access to U.S. technologies.

Tan has since divested from Chinese holdings following his appointment at Intel, according to sources familiar with the matter. He no longer serves on the boards of Chinese firms and has shifted investment focus toward the U.S., Europe, and Israel through new ventures like Walden Catalyst Ventures and Celesta Global Capital.

Tan’s past leadership at Cadence Design Systems, where he was CEO from 2009 to 2021, also drew scrutiny. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice fined Cadence over $100 million after its China unit was found to have supplied blacklisted entities, including a Chinese university engaged in nuclear simulations.

While Tan was not personally named in the DOJ findings, Senator Cotton cited the case as part of his broader criticism of Tan’s leadership history.

Despite the backlash, public records indicate that neither Tan nor Walden Catalyst Ventures holds significant active stakes in Chinese firms. According to PitchBook, Walden’s China presence has “significantly diminished,” reflecting an industry-wide shift as geopolitical tensions reshape global tech investment.

Intel’s board continues to support Tan as CEO, emphasizing his leadership during a critical time for the U.S. semiconductor industry, as Washington pushes to reduce reliance on foreign chipmakers and rebuild domestic manufacturing.

Thai Court Acquits Thaksin Shinawatra in Lese-Majeste Case as Political Uncertainty Deepens

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Jonathan Head, Via Getty Images

Japan is confronting a demographic crisis of historic proportions, with its population shrinking by more than 900,000 people in 2024 the largest annual drop on record according to new government data released this week.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that the number of Japanese nationals fell by 908,574 last year, reducing the country’s population to approximately 120 million. This marks the 16th consecutive year of population decline, a trend fueled by a persistently low fertility rate, a rapidly aging population, and limited immigration.

Japan’s population peaked in 2009 at 126.6 million. Since then, it has steadily declined, reflecting deep-seated social and economic issues from the high cost of living and stagnant wages to gender norms that discourage family formation and parenting among younger generations.

The 2024 data highlights a growing imbalance between births and deaths. Only 687,689 babies were born the lowest since records began in 1968 while nearly 1.6 million people died, the highest figure ever recorded. This results in a natural population decrease of over 900,000, a figure that overshadows gains made through immigration.

Currently, nearly 30% of Japan’s population is aged 65 or older, while the working-age demographic (15–64 years) comprises just 59%, well below the global average of 65%, according to the OECD. This demographic imbalance is straining Japan’s pension system, healthcare services, and overall social infrastructure.

The Japanese government has spent more than a decade implementing various measures to counter the demographic downturn. These include childbirth incentives, housing subsidies, and promoting paternity leave to encourage gender equality in child-rearing. However, the measures have yielded minimal results in reversing the trend.

Despite the government's push, societal expectations around gender roles remain rigid. Women continue to shoulder most domestic and caregiving responsibilities, and single parenthood remains relatively rare. Experts argue that without deeper cultural shifts, financial incentives alone may not be sufficient to boost the birth rate.

One potential lever to slow the population decline is immigration historically a sensitive and controversial issue in Japan, which has long viewed itself as an ethnically homogenous nation. Foreign residents and individuals of mixed ethnicity have often faced social discrimination and institutional hurdles.

Nonetheless, the government has begun to soften its stance. New initiatives, including a digital nomad visa and skill-based migration programs, signal a shift in immigration policy. These efforts appear to be gaining traction: the number of foreign residents in Japan increased by over 10% in 2024, reaching a record 3.6 million.

Revised government projections from 2023 suggest Japan’s population could fall by 30% by 2070. However, the same models indicate the rate of decline may slow due to increased international migration.

Demographers emphasize that even a sudden and significant increase in fertility would not reverse the current trajectory in the short term. The population will continue to decline for several decades until a new generational balance is established.

As Japan grapples with the dual pressures of a shrinking workforce and an expanding elderly population, the country’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other aging societies worldwide including neighboring South Korea and China facing similar demographic headwinds.