Frank Nez 
In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation, Tori Branum, AKA “ICE Karen”, a 47-year-old MAGA congressional candidate and U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Georgia’s 12th district, boasted on social media and in interviews about alerting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to alleged workplace violations at a Hyundai battery plant under construction near Savannah.
The tip-off reportedly triggered the largest single-site immigration raid in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) history, detaining about 475 workers, including 300 South Korean nationals, and straining U.S.-South Korea relations just weeks after a high-level economic pact.
Branum’s actions, which she defended as protecting American jobs, have been slammed as economic sabotage by critics, including South Korean media and local business leaders, who accuse her of prioritizing political gain over Georgia’s prosperity.
As the 2026 midterms heat up, the controversy highlights the volatile intersection of immigration enforcement and economic diplomacy under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Raid and Branum’s Role
The September 4, 2025, raid at the Hyundai Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia, part of a $12.6 billion investment by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, resulted in the arrest of 475 individuals, according to DHS officials.
Homeland Security Investigations chief Steven Schrank confirmed that some detainees had entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed visas, while others violated work restrictions.
The operation, involving armored vehicles and agents in tactical gear, led to workers being handcuffed and shackled before being loaded onto buses, with footage circulating widely on social media and in South Korean outlets.
Branum, a firearms instructor and first-time candidate challenging incumbent Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA), claimed responsibility for the tip-off in a Facebook post and interviews.
“I served this country and I’ll go down with the ship before someone silences me,” she wrote, adding that her actions aligned with her “America First” platform to “get rid of a lot of illegals.”
In a Rolling Stone interview, Branum stated, “This is what I voted for — to get rid of a lot of illegals. And what I voted for is happening.”
She also shared photos of herself holding a modified AR-15-style rifle with a laser scope, which she later removed from social media, and another image brandishing an automatic weapon with a misattributed quote about patriotism originally from Adlai Stevenson II but credited to Benjamin Franklin in her post.
The raid occurred just 10 days after Trump met South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Washington, D.C., where they pledged to strengthen economic ties, including South Korea’s $350 billion investment in exchange for reduced tariffs from 25% to 15%, per The Wall Street Journal.
Hyundai confirmed that none of the detained were direct employees, but the incident has disrupted operations at the facility, which is expected to create a whopping 8,500 jobs in Georgia, per CNN.
Diplomatic and Economic Backlash
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “concern and regret,” stating, “The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of U.S. law enforcement.”
The government arranged a charter flight to repatriate the detained nationals once administrative processes conclude, with Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik overseeing the effort, per CNN.
South Korean business publication CEO News blasted Branum, writing, “Her justification of ‘protecting American jobs’ rings hollow when her actions sabotage Georgia’s long-term prosperity.”
Local reactions have been equally harsh.
A South Korean business publication called Branum’s actions “massively ignorant.”
Social media users accused her of economic suicide, with one commenting, “So MAGA wanted tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the US. But when a company tries to open a plant here, MAGA undermines it. Once again you proved what an embarrassment your party is to our country,” as reported by The Daily Beast.
Another wrote, “You have caused a serious geopolitical problem between us and S. Korea with your massively ignorant actions.”
Branum has received hate mail, including threats, but remains defiant.
Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) condemned the raid as an “act of cruelty and injustice,” alleging wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens and lawful residents, per Fox News.
The Washington Post and CEO News have criticized Branum for using the raid to boost her campaign.
Political and Campaign Implications
Branum’s bid for Georgia’s 12th congressional district, a solidly Republican seat, has gained notoriety from the controversy.
As a first-time candidate, she positions herself as an anti-establishment figure, but the raid’s fallout could harm her prospects.
Social media users expressed hope it would doom her campaign, with one stating, “You literally helped kill the economy in your own area, but you want to be a leader?.”
The incident underscores the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, including mass deportations and raids like the one at Hyundai, which detained 475 workers despite economic partnerships.
Trump’s Truth Social post on September 8 urged foreign companies to “respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws,” while acknowledging the need for foreign expertise in industries like battery manufacturing.
The raid’s timing, shortly after Trump’s meeting with South Korea’s president, has strained bilateral ties, with South Korea’s foreign minister planning a Washington visit to discuss visas and the incident.
As the 2026 midterms approach, Branum’s controversy could alienate voters in Georgia’s 12th district, where economic issues like job creation are key.
The administration’s broader policies, including a potential government shutdown over a $4.95 billion pocket rescission, further complicate Trump’s narrative of economic strength.
Also Read: GOP Members Now Believe Trump Is Named First In The Epstein Files
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