Tori Branum Faces Online Backlash After ICE Tip on Georgia Battery Plant

Tori Branum, a Republican candidate for Georgia’s 12th District, was inundated with social media attacks Monday after admitting she tipped off U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about alleged illegal hires at the LG Energy Solution-Hyundai battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia.

Branum’s disclosure has sparked nationwide debate over immigration enforcement and economic ties with South Korea, as critics accuse her of jeopardizing multibillion-dollar projects and targeting foreign workers.

Nut Graf

Branum claimed she reported the plant after learning from a union informant that the facility was bypassing local hires, prompting a raid that detained over 300 workers. Her actions have drawn fierce criticism online and diplomatic concern in Seoul, where officials concluded talks Sunday to secure the release of detained Korean nationals.

Social Media Storm

  • Branum’s Facebook inbox filled with hate messages and threats.
  • She posted, then removed, images of herself wielding a modified rifle, captioned “I am not afraid.”
  • Critics on X and Reddit labeled her actions “racist” and warned of job losses if Hyundai withdraws from Georgia.

Diplomatic Fallout

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed “concern and regret” over the detentions. After emergency negotiations, Seoul secured assurances for the swift release and repatriation of Korean workers, many of whom held B-1 or ESTA visas prohibiting wage labor.

Political Implications

  • Branum, a former Marine marksmanship instructor, is running for Congress in 2026 with a hardline immigration stance.
  • Supporters praise her for “standing up for American workers,” while opponents warn her actions risk economic fallout and diplomatic rifts.

Background of the ICE Operation

  • The raid, one of ICE’s largest, involved multiple federal agencies and drew a Georgia State Patrol helicopter for perimeter support.
  • About 450 individuals were initially detained, including South Korean nationals on work-related visas.

Branum has vowed not to back down, stating her report was “what I voted for-to remove illegal labor,” and maintains she acted in the interest of Georgia constituents. Yet the episode underscores mounting tensions between aggressive immigration enforcement and international economic partnerships.