South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is gearing up for a potential trip to the United States this week. The main goal? To tackle the recent arrests of over 300 South Korean workers during a massive US immigration raid at a battery plant in Georgia. This development has sparked concerns about illegal work visas and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The raid happened on Thursday at a site run by South Korean giants Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Bryan County. Out of 457 people on site, more than 300 were South Korean nationals taken into custody by US immigration authorities. Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called it the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. They say the workers were caught working illegally, even those on short-term or tourist visas that ban any employment.
US President Donald Trump backed the operation on Friday, referring to the detained individuals as “illegal aliens.” This has put pressure on South Korea to respond quickly, especially with fears that the investigation could drag on and affect the workers’ rights.
In a government meeting on Saturday, Cho Hyun announced he’d head to Washington if needed to meet US officials. His focus would be pushing for the swift release of the detained South Koreans and ensuring their rights aren’t violated unfairly. A diplomatic source confirmed these plans, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, South Korean consular officials have already started visiting the detainees at an immigration center in Folkston, Georgia. They’re checking on everyone’s health and well-being. The team, led by Consul General Cho Ki-joong from the Korean Embassy in Washington, is working hard to get the workers freed as soon as possible.
This incident at the Georgia battery plant underscores ongoing issues with work visas and immigration enforcement in the US. As South Korea pushes for cooperation, many are watching how this could impact bilateral relations and the future of such joint ventures. Stay tuned for updates on the South Korean workers’ release and the potential US visit by Foreign Minister Cho.
