SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Over 300 South Korean workers detained during a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will be released and escorted home, as confirmed by the South Korean government on Sunday.
The news comes after discussions between the South Korean and U.S. officials, wherein a chartered flight will return the workers once administrative formalities are complete. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for President Lee Jae Myung, underscored the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need to safeguard the rights of South Koreans abroad.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is expected to travel to the U.S. on Monday to engage in talks regarding the workers’ release. Reports indicate that U.S. immigration authorities had detained 475 individuals during the raid, with the majority being South Korean nationals. The raid targeted Hyundai’s expanding facility, which collaborates with LG Energy Solution to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.
The scale of the immigration operation surprised many in South Korea, as the country has long been a staunch ally of the United States. Notably, South Korea recently agreed to major economic dealings, including a $100 billion energy purchase and a $350 billion investment in the U.S. infrastructure.
The detention incident aroused concerns regarding the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and how they impact foreign nationals, with South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressing regret and dispatching diplomats to the scene.
Video footage released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed the level of enforcement during the raid, where workers were instructed to line up and were frisked, with some placed in shackles. Most detainees were taken to an immigration detention center in Folkston, Georgia, although no formal charges have been laid against them yet. The ongoing investigation is said to involve individuals with varied immigration statuses, some of whom entered the U.S. illegally, while others had expired visas.
In light of these events, the South Korean government is advocating for a review and enhancement of visa protocols for its business professionals traveling to the United States for investment and work-related purposes.
