South Korea is preparing to repatriate around 300 of its citizens detained during a large-scale US immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor manufacturing facility in Georgia, officials in Seoul confirmed on Sunday.
The operation, carried out last Thursday by US federal agents, swept up a total of 475 workers at the Ellabell-based EV battery plant marking the largest single-site workplace enforcement action in the history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Roughly 300 of those arrested were South Korean nationals.
South Korea’s presidential office said that negotiations with US authorities had concluded and that processing for the release of the detained workers was underway. A chartered aircraft will be dispatched to bring them home once formalities are completed. Yonhap News Agency, citing Consul General Cho Ki-joong, reported the group could depart as early as Wednesday.
The facility, a joint $4.3 billion investment between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, is considered one of Georgia’s largest-ever economic development projects. The raid came just 10 days after a summit between the US and South Korean presidents, during which both leaders pledged closer economic and business cooperation.
Seoul expressed deep concern over both the arrests and the release of footage showing workers shackled and led away by US authorities, often flanked by armored vehicles.
The DHS said the raid was executed under a judicial warrant tied to alleged unlawful employment practices, claiming many of those detained lacked legal authorisation to work in the US.
White House border czar Tom Homan vowed to expand workplace immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has ramped up deportations and workplace raids since January.
South Korean officials are now reviewing visa systems for Korean workers employed abroad to avoid future incidents. “We will seek ways to improve the process and prevent a similar event from happening again,” said presidential chief of staff Kang Hun-sik.
The diplomatic fallout has raised tensions between the two allies, even as both sides work to finalize a trade agreement announced in July.
That deal includes a $350 billion fund aimed at supporting Korean businesses operating in the US, and Hyundai has pledged to increase US investments to $26 billion, including a new robotics facility.
In the wake of the raid, LG Energy Solution has suspended most staff travel to the US and is recalling personnel already on assignment except in exceptional cases.
As reported, President Trump may visit South Korea in October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, potentially providing an opportunity for further dialogue on the issue.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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