South Korea has good news for its citizens caught up in a US immigration crackdown. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun secured key promises from the United States during talks in Washington, ensuring that the detained South Koreans won’t face any hurdles when they return to work in America later. This comes as a chartered flight prepares to bring most of them home from Georgia, just a week after their arrests at an electric car battery plant.
Cho shared these updates with reporters after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He emphasized that the two countries agreed the workers will travel to Atlanta’s airport without any physical restraints, like handcuffs, making the journey smoother and more dignified. “We’ve got assurances that they can reenter the US without problems to keep working,” Cho said, highlighting the focus on their future job opportunities.
The incident started last Thursday when US immigration authorities arrested over 300 South Koreans in a mass detention sweep. These skilled workers were at the battery plant site, and Seoul quickly stepped in. Cho flew to Washington this week to push for their release from a detention center in Folkston, Georgia.
Originally, the group was set to board a chartered flight on Wednesday afternoon, but delays hit due to some unspecified US issues. Officials now say the hold-up stemmed from President Donald Trump urging his team to encourage the Koreans to stay and continue their work, especially training American staff. A foreign ministry official explained, “Trump wanted to check if these skilled workers preferred to return home or stick around in the US. It wasn’t about handcuffing, though that was still a concern.”
Cho told Rubio that the detainees were “extremely shocked and exhausted” after the ordeal, so bringing them home first makes sense. They can always come back later. Importantly, Trump’s comments signal no long-term penalties—no records of illegal stays, and their departure will count as voluntary. South Korean officials believe the workers stayed within their visa limits and didn’t admit to overstaying.
In a positive twist, Trump personally ordered the airport transport without restraints, honoring Seoul’s strong requests. This move underscores the close ties between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
The chartered flight is now scheduled to depart from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday at noon. The 330 passengers—mostly men, with just 10 women—will head to the airport starting around 2 a.m. from the detention facility. That includes 316 South Koreans and 14 others: 10 Chinese, three Japanese, and one Indonesian nationals. One South Korean chose to stay behind in the US.
Beyond the immediate relief, Cho and Rubio discussed bigger fixes for South Korean workers and businesses in America. They agreed to form a working group to revamp visa systems, including a new visa category tailored for long-term investments. “We want visas that match our economic ties and make things easier for our companies operating in the US,” Cho noted. The State Department and South Korea’s foreign ministry will move quickly on these talks to prevent future immigration issues.
This resolution shows strong US-South Korea cooperation on immigration and worker rights, offering hope for smoother paths ahead for global talent in the job market.
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