South Korea has announced that negotiations with the U.S. to secure the release of its citizens detained in a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia have concluded, and the workers will soon be freed and flown home.
This follows the arrest of over 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai-LG battery construction site in the southern U.S. on Thursday. U.S. authorities released footage showing detained workers in handcuffs and ankle chains being loaded onto a prison transport bus.
The raid in Ellabell was the largest single-site operation conducted so far under former President Donald Trump’s nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrants, catching South Korean officials by surprise.
Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said on Sunday, “Thanks to a swift and united response, negotiations for the release of the detained workers have been concluded. Only administrative steps remain. Once these are completed, a chartered flight will depart to bring our citizens home.”
In an effort to manage the situation, a senior executive from LG Energy Solution flew to Georgia on Sunday morning. Kim Ki-soo, the executive, told reporters before boarding, “The immediate priority is the quick release of both our LG Energy Solution employees and those from our partner companies.”
LG Energy Solution confirmed that 47 of its employees were arrested—46 South Koreans and one Indonesian. The company also stated that around 250 of those detained were believed to be employed by its contractor, most of whom were South Korean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the reported detention and release of South Korean nationals at a Hyundai plant in the US designed to be clear and helpful
General Factual Questions
Q What exactly happened
A Reports state that approximately 300 South Korean workers were temporarily detained by US immigration authorities at a Hyundaiowned manufacturing plant in the US They have since been confirmed for release
Q Why were these workers detained
A The specific reasons for each individual are part of an ongoing investigation but it is generally related to their visa and work authorization status under US immigration law
Q Where did this happen
A The incident occurred at a Hyundai Motor Group supplier plant specifically a factory called SMART in Luverne Alabama
Q Have all the workers been released
A According to the South Korean governments statement yes the 300 nationals are in the process of being released This typically means they are no longer in custody but their immigration cases may still be under review
Q Is this a common occurrence
A Largescale enforcement actions like this at a single worksite are not an everyday event but US Immigration and Customs Enforcement does conduct audits and raids to enforce employment laws
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q What type of visas were these workers likely on
A They were most likely on E2 visas which are Treaty Investor visas for nationals of countries that have a treaty of commerce with the US This is a common visa for South Korean workers sent to support Korean companies operating in America
Q What are the potential violations that lead to a detention like this
A Common violations include
Working beyond the specific terms of the visa
The company failing to maintain proper visa documentation for its employees
Misclassification of the workers role making their visa invalid for the job they were actually doing
Q What are the potential consequences for the workers now
A While released they could still face immigration proceedings Outcomes can range from being required to depart the US voluntarily to having their current visa revoked to being barred from reentering the US for a period of time
Q What are the consequences for the company Hyundai
A
