South Korean Workers Released After Major US Immigration Raid

Seoul — South Korea's presidential office has confirmed the successful release of approximately 300 of its citizens who were among nearly 500 workers detained in a large-scale immigration raid in the American state of Georgia. The incident, which has strained diplomatic relations between the two allies, took place at a major electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, a joint venture between South Korean giants Hyundai and LG Energy Solution.

The South Korean government announced on Sunday that negotiations to free the workers had concluded, and a chartered flight would be arranged to bring them home as soon as final administrative procedures are complete. This swift response comes amid heightened tensions, as the raid occurred just ten days after a summit between US and South Korean presidents where they had pledged closer business ties.

The raid, described as the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), saw federal agents arrest 475 people at the $4.3 billion construction site in Ellabell, Georgia, on Thursday. The operation was conducted under a judicial search warrant following a months-long criminal investigation into what officials called "unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes."

In response to the arrests, US President Donald Trump used his social media platform to call on foreign companies to "respect our Nation's immigration laws" while also encouraging them to "LEGALLY bring your very smart people." The comments came after his administration's White House border czar, Tom Homan, vowed to expand immigration raids on businesses.

The incident has caused dismay in Seoul, where the government has expressed its regret over the arrests and the public release of footage showing a major operation involving armoured vehicles and workers in shackles.

LG Energy Solution has taken steps to suspend staff business trips to the United States and recall employees already there, while South Korea's presidential chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, stated the government will seek ways to improve the visa system for Korean workers travelling to the US to prevent similar incidents. The raid puts into question a major trade deal, agreed upon in July, that included a pledge of over $350 billion in Korean investment in the US.