SEOUL/WASHINGTON D.C. – South Korea is set to dispatch a chartered Korean Air flight to Atlanta as early as Wednesday, September 10, 2025, to repatriate hundreds of its citizens detained following a large-scale U.S. immigration raid at a major electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Georgia. The incident, which saw approximately 475 workers detained, has sent shockwaves through South Korea, a key U.S. ally, raising diplomatic tensions and concerns over future investments.
The raid, conducted on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the construction site of a multi-billion dollar joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Bryan County, Georgia, was described by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. Officials stated that the detained individuals were found to be working illegally, in violation of their visas. Among the arrested, over 300 were South Korean nationals, with others identified as Japanese and Chinese citizens.
Raid Details and Detainee Status
U.S. authorities indicated that many of the detained workers had entered the country on B-1 business visas or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program, neither of which permits employment. Some may have overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally. The nature of the work performed by the South Korean nationals—often involving specialized engineering and equipment installation for the advanced battery plant—has been a point of discussion, with some arguing that such skills are not readily available domestically and that the work could be authorized under specific visa categories.
Video footage released by ICE showed some detained workers being shackled, leading to widespread condemnation in South Korea. The presidential office in Seoul expressed a “deep responsibility for the safety of Korean citizens” and called for careful management of the situation. President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the need for institutional improvements to prevent similar incidents from recurring, urging negotiations in a “spirit of trust and alliance.”
South Korea’s Diplomatic and Logistical Response
In response to the mass detentions, South Korea’s government swiftly moved to secure the release of its citizens. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun traveled to Washington D.C. for high-level talks aimed at ensuring the workers’ return under “voluntary departure” status, rather than formal deportation. This approach is crucial to avoid potential five-year bans on re-entry into the United States, a significant concern for many workers who may need to return to complete the plant’s construction and operations.
Korean Air, the nation’s flagship carrier, is operating a Boeing 747-8i aircraft to transport the detainees from Atlanta back to South Korea. The flight was scheduled to depart as early as Wednesday, September 10, 2025. South Korean officials have been in constant negotiation with U.S. counterparts to finalize administrative procedures and facilitate this repatriation. Beyond the immediate repatriation, Seoul also aims to address broader issues concerning work visa limitations for skilled South Korean professionals working on U.S. investment projects.
U.S. Stance and Broader Implications
U.S. officials, including those from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, have maintained that the operation targeted individuals violating immigration laws, emphasizing a commitment to enforcing federal statutes and protecting American jobs. President Donald Trump reiterated that foreign companies investing in the U.S. must respect its immigration laws while also acknowledging the need for skilled foreign talent, provided they enter and work legally.
The incident has cast a shadow over the substantial investments South Korean companies are making in the U.S., estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The raid has fueled debate about the U.S. immigration system’s efficiency and its impact on international business relations. Critics in South Korea have voiced outrage and confusion, questioning the timing of the raid amidst significant economic cooperation and investment pledges. The event has highlighted the complexities of balancing strict immigration enforcement with the desire to attract foreign capital and expertise for crucial industrial projects, particularly in the rapidly growing electric vehicle sector.
The outcomes of the ongoing negotiations and the eventual return of the detained workers are being closely watched, as the incident underscores ongoing challenges in U.S. immigration policy and its influence on international economic partnerships. This news underscores the critical intersection of immigration law, international business, and diplomatic relations in today’s global economy.
