South Korean Citizens Detained in US Immigration Raid to be Released
In a dramatic turn of events, South Korea’s government has announced an agreement with the US to release its citizens who were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
The chief of staff of South Korea’s president, Kang Hoon-sik, revealed that a chartered plane will be dispatched to bring the detainees back home once administrative procedures are finalized.
Efforts to Prevent Future Incidents
Kang Hoon-sik also mentioned that authorities are working on improving the visa system to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
US Immigration Raid and Fallout
US officials detained a total of 475 individuals, with over 300 of them being South Korean nationals, for allegedly working illegally at the battery facility, a significant foreign investment project in the state.
Reports indicate that South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to travel to the United States on Monday to address the situation.
Response from the White House
Despite concerns about the impact on foreign investment, the White House defended the operation at Hyundai. President Donald Trump took to social media to emphasize the need for foreign companies to respect US immigration laws and prioritize hiring American workers.
Worker’s Perspective
An employee at the plant described the chaos and uncertainty during the raid, noting that most of the detained workers were mechanics involved in installing production lines and were employed by a contractor.
Future Raids and Enforcement
Tom Homan, a border official in the Trump administration, indicated that more extensive immigration raids similar to the one at the plant are likely to occur in the future to address illegal employment practices.
ICE Operation and Justification
ICE officials released a video showing Asian workers in restraints outside the building, emphasizing that individuals on short-term or recreational visas are not permitted to work in the US. The raid was deemed necessary to safeguard American jobs.
Business Impact and Reactions
The joint venture factory’s operation, which manufactures electric vehicles, has been a significant economic development project for Georgia. However, the recent events have sparked concern in Seoul and led to repercussions for companies like LG Energy Solution.
Overall, the raid has sent shockwaves through the South Korean community and raised questions about the future of business activities in the United States.
