South Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun heads to the U.S. on Monday to discuss visa reforms after 300 Korean workers were detained in a massive immigration raid at Hyundai-LG Energy Solution’s (LGES) $4.3 billion battery plant in Georgia. Authorities plan to fly the workers home later this week.
The detention, part of the largest single-site operation in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) history, targeted 475 workers, mostly employed by subcontractors.
Video footage showed armoured vehicles and some workers shackled, sparking concern in Seoul.
The raid occurred just 10 days after South Korea’s new President Lee Jae Myung met U.S. President Donald Trump, during which both pledged closer business ties.
It also came amid South Korea’s commitment to a $350 billion investment in the U.S. market, including Hyundai’s Georgia project, a joint venture with LGES producing batteries for electric vehicles.
Cho will focus on arranging a “voluntary departure” for the detained workers via a chartered flight and on broader improvements to the U.S. visa system for Korean workers, a ministry official said. Processing for their release is ongoing, with officials aiming for departure by midweek.
U.S. President Trump, who has expanded nationwide deportations, said he was not aware of the raid beforehand and labelled those detained “illegal aliens.”
On Sunday, he struck a more conciliatory tone, encouraging foreign companies to bring skilled workers legally.
“Your investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The operation followed a judicial search warrant investigating alleged unlawful employment practices, including workers who had crossed the border illegally or overstayed visas. DHS has not commented further, while White House border official Tom Homan vowed more workplace enforcement.
The detentions have raised tensions as Hyundai and LGES expand U.S. operations. Hyundai has asked some staff to suspend non-essential trips, and LGES is recalling employees currently in the U.S., except for essential personnel. Chris Susock, Hyundai’s North America chief manufacturing officer, will oversee the Georgia site.
Relations between Washington and Seoul remain sensitive, with the raid occurring during negotiations over the broader U.S.-South Korea trade and investment deal.
Cho’s upcoming talks with U.S. Secretary State Marco Rubio on 8 September aim to prevent a similar incident in the future and maintain confidence in South Korea’s investments in the United States.
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe t...
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip....
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could...
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step tha...
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached early next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
Ukraine has carried out its first aerial drone strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting a growing intensity in Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil shipping, officials said on Friday (19 December).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment