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.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action rem...
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with ...
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing h...
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Mya...
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps in protest against persistent congestion from heavy truck traffic and tourism.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment