Atlanta: A plane, chartered to bring home Korean workers detained in a recent U.S. immigration crackdown, will take off from an airport in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday (local time), according to an informed source.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Air plane is set to carry approximately 300 Korean workers and will depart from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at noon. The plane's departure was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed.
The detained workers are expected to begin their journey to the airport from a detention center in Folkston between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. This arrangement follows diplomatic discussions aimed at securing their quick return to Korea.
The decision to repatriate the workers came after discussions between Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday. These talks were part of Seoul's efforts to expedite the release of Korean detainees.
During the meeting, Cho requested that Rubio facilitate the Koreans' return without the use of physical restraints, such as handcuffs, and ensure that they would not face any future reentry restrictions into the United States, according to his office.
The Korean workers were apprehended during a raid last week at an electric vehicle battery plant construction site, which is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in Bryan County. U.S. authorities stated that the workers were found to be working illegally, including those on short-term visas that do not permit employment.