South Korean Workers Freed After US Immigration Raid at EV Battery Plant
Hundreds of South Korean workers who got caught in a major US immigration crackdown last week are finally heading home. They walked out of a detention center in Georgia on Thursday, thanks to intense diplomatic efforts from Seoul to wrap up this unusual standoff with America’s closest ally.
A total of 316 Korean nationals stepped out from the Folkston facility, exactly one week after agents swooped in on a bustling construction site. This site, run by a Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution joint venture, is building an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Bryan County near Savannah. The raid nabbed 475 people in all, including 14 other foreigners, in what US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) calls the biggest single-site operation in Homeland Security Investigations history.
The workers had been living on the site, but ICE said they were working illegally. Many held B-1 temporary visitor visas or used the visa waiver program, which don’t allow employment. Shocking videos of the Koreans in handcuffs and chains spread like wildfire, sparking outrage and betrayal in South Korea. It hit hard, especially since the US is a key partner for Korean investments.
Buses rolled out from the detention center Thursday, carrying the group on a 4.5-hour trip to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. From there, they’ll board a chartered Korean Air flight for "voluntary departure"—not a full deportation. The plane lifts off at noon local time and should touch down in South Korea on Friday. Korean officials, led by Consul General Cho Ki-joong and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, worked nonstop to make this happen, providing on-site help and pushing for quick releases.
The release came a day later than planned. US President Donald Trump urged the workers to stay, as his team eyes deeper ties with Korean firms to boost American shipbuilding, chipmaking, and auto industries. Just 10 days earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Trump at the White House after a trade deal where Korea pledged $350 billion in US investments. Yet this raid threw a wrench in that goodwill, raising big questions about whether Korean companies can count on stable business in the US.
Experts worry it dents America’s image as a trusted ally. Rob Rapson, a former acting US ambassador to South Korea, told Yonhap News Agency, "This episode is yet another direct hit on overall US credibility as a reliable and trusted partner or ally in Korea and beyond." The workers and their bosses were stunned—the raid shattered their trust in the US as a safe spot for joint ventures like this EV battery project.
But some see a potential upside. The incident spotlights long-standing visa headaches for Korean businesses needing skilled workers in the US. During talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister Cho suggested a new working group to create a special visa category for Korean employees. Rubio agreed to "actively review" it, and the US also promised no penalties—like reentry bans—for these detained workers.
President Lee Jae Myung called the alliance the "foundation" of his foreign policy and shared his heavy heart in a Cabinet meeting. "I feel a great sense of responsibility as a president who has the ultimate responsibility for the safety of citizens," he said.
Critics point out the irony in Trump’s approach: He uses tariffs to lure foreign cash into the US, but his tough immigration stance scares off the very workers needed to make those projects hum. On Sunday, Trump hinted at legal fixes to let investing companies bring in "smart" talent with "great technical talent" to train Americans.
This South Korea-US immigration drama underscores the tightrope between economic partnerships and border enforcement, leaving many to wonder what’s next for bilateral ties.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
