Atlanta: Hundreds of South Korean workers detained in a recent U.S. immigration crackdown in Georgia are set to return to South Korea on Wednesday afternoon (U.S. time), according to diplomatic sources who confirmed the developments following days of diplomatic negotiations aimed at ensuring their safe repatriation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, approximately 300 South Korean nationals detained at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Folkston, Georgia, will depart on a chartered flight around 2:30 p.m. The group was arrested six days ago during a significant U.S. immigration operation at a South Korean electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Bryan County, operated jointly by Hyundai Motor Co. and LG Energy Solution Ltd.
The detainees will be transported by bus to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a journey expected to take about five hours, before boarding their flight home. However, it remains uncertain if all detained individuals have consented to the trip. A Seoul official indicated that individuals with foreign nationalities might also have the opportunity to fly back on the same plane.
A Korean Air Boeing 747-8i, capable of seating 368 passengers, is scheduled to depart from Seoul for Atlanta on Wednesday morning (South Korean time). The widespread arrests, which included 475 individuals with around 300 being South Koreans, were part of an investigation by U.S. authorities into unlawful workplace practices.
The South Korean government has intensified its discussions with Washington to secure the detainees' release and ensure their return is processed as voluntary, aiming to prevent any impact on their future ability to enter the United States. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in Washington on Tuesday to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the situation and potential improvements in work visa programs for South Korean businesses.
Additionally, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security and the Commerce Department are collaborating to address visa regulations affecting skilled foreign workers.