ATLANTA (AP) — In a significant development regarding immigration policies and international relations, buses carrying over 300 South Korean workers who were detained during a recent raid at a Georgia battery factory have begun their journey from a detention center to Atlanta. There, a charter plane is prepared to take the workers back home.
Last week, approximately 475 workers were detained in an immigration raid at the battery factory located on the expansive Hyundai auto plant campus near Savannah. Among those detained, more than 300 were South Koreans. In a statement, South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that a Korean Air flight, which had arrived in Atlanta, is scheduled to depart with the affected workers onboard.
The detainees were held at a facility in Folkston, about 285 miles southeast of Atlanta. The South Korean Foreign Ministry has indicated that the U.S. has agreed to release 330 workers, out of which 316 are Korean. Also part of this group are 10 Chinese nationals, three Japanese nationals, and one Indonesian.
In light of these events, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged the U.S. to improve its visa system, highlighting concerns that Korean firms might hesitate to invest in the U.S. if such issues persist.
This incident raises questions about the future of South Korean investments in America's burgeoning electric vehicle market, particularly as negotiations continue for the voluntary departure of the detained workers to avoid the harsh consequences of deportation. South Korean officials have expressed their desire to ensure that these workers can return to the U.S. in the future without facing reentry barriers.
During a recent visit to Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun underscored the emotional impact these arrests had on the workers and called for U.S. administrative support to facilitate their return without complications.
