South Korea’s government has chartered a plane to bring home the detained workers after negotiations with U.S. officials.
President Donald Trump on Sept. 7 urged foreign companies to respect immigration laws and suggested that they train U.S. workers after a raid at Hyundai’s Georgia plant led to the arrest of South Korean nationals accused of staying in the country illegally.
About 475 workers, most of whom were South Korean nationals, were detained during the Sept. 4 raid at a car battery plant jointly operated by South Korean companies Hyundai and LG Energy Solution in Georgia.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the raid was part of a broader immigration enforcement operation and implored foreign companies to respect the nation’s regulations when it comes to hiring.
“Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people, with great technical talent, to build World Class products, and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” he said. “What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was right to detain the South Korean workers at the Hyundai facility “because they were here illegally.”
Trump said the government will look into the possibility of allowing foreign experts into the country to help train U.S. workers while suggesting that the arrests had no impact on U.S.–South Korea ties.
South Korea’s government chartered a plane to bring home the detained workers following negotiations with U.S. officials over their release, according to Yonhap News Agency. South Korea’s consul general in Washington, Cho Ki-joong, told reporters that the plane is expected to depart for the United States on Sept. 10 to pick up the detained workers, the South Korean news agency reported.
Those arrested in the raid were “working illegally, in violation of the terms of their visas and/or statuses,” according to ICE. The agency explained that people on short-term or recreational visas are not permitted to work in the country.
