SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s foreign minister departed for the U.S. on Monday to finalize steps for the return of several hundred South Korean workers detained in a massive immigration raid in Georgia, a spectacle that has caused confusion, shock, and a sense of betrayal among many in the U.S.-allied nation.
The Sept. 4 raid on a battery factory under construction at a sprawling Hyundai auto plant resulted in the detainment of 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Koreans. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) video footage depicted some workers being shackled, intensifying backlash.
South Korea announced that the U.S. agreed to release the workers, which included many who had entered the country legally. However, the incident has raised troubling questions about future South Korean corporate investments in the U.S.
President Donald Trump described the detained workers as illegal immigrants, prompting South Korean officials to express frustration over strict U.S. visa policies that have significantly limited work opportunities for skilled foreign laborers.
Amid public outcry, Cho Hyun called the raid a very serious matter. Political leaders warned that the raid dealt a severe blow to South Korea-U.S. relations, raising doubts about the long-term implications for both countries.
Experts indicate that such aggressive immigration enforcement could deter foreign companies, including South Korean businesses, from investing further in the U.S. just as they have pledged to increase investments significantly.
As the issues of labor shortages and skilled immigration reforms linger, South Korean companies are hoping that the fallout from this incident will prompt changes to U.S. immigration laws that hinder their operations.
In response to this unfolding drama, the South Korean government has begun discussions with the U.S. to ensure smoother crossings for their skilled workers in the future, stressing the mutual benefits of cooperation and workforce collaboration.
