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| South Korea workers return home after us detention |
More than 300 South Korean workers returned home on September 12, 2025, after being detained in a large-scale U.S. immigration raid. The raid took place on September 4 at a battery plant in Georgia. The workers were involved in building an electric vehicle battery factory. The facility is a partnership between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution .
The workers arrived at Incheon Airport on a chartered flight. They were greeted by officials and family members. Some workers wore face masks as they left the plane. Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Jin-bok was among those who welcomed them home .
The detention caused shock and confusion in South Korea. Many people saw videos of workers in handcuffs and shackles. The images were released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The raid was part of a larger operation by U.S. authorities. In total, 475 workers were detained. Besides South Koreans, the group included people from China, Japan, and Indonesia .
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the incident could make companies hesitant to invest in the U.S. He warned that such actions might affect future economic cooperation. The raid came just weeks after a summit between President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump. Both leaders had pledged to strengthen economic ties .
Lawmakers in South Korea expressed strong reactions. Some called the raid "unacceptable" and a "severe blow." Others suggested investigating Americans working illegally in South Korea. The foreign minister, Cho Hyun, flew to Washington to negotiate the workers' release. He met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the situation .
The U.S. authorities said some workers had entered the country illegally. Others had overstayed their visas or used visa waivers incorrectly. But South Korean officials and lawyers argued that the workers were skilled technicians. They were needed to install and set up specialized equipment. Such work is often done under B-1 business visas or visa waiver programs .
Immigration lawyer Charles Kuck represented some of the detained workers. He said many were engineers or equipment installers. Their work was temporary and aimed at getting the factory ready. He stated that similar practices have been used for decades by Japanese and German companies setting up U.S. operations .
The two countries are now discussing a new type of visa for South Korean workers. The goal is to avoid similar problems in the future. South Korea has been asking for more visas for skilled workers. The U.S. currently limits H-1B and H-2B visas. This has led companies to use short-term visas as a workaround .
The battery plant in Georgia is part of a $7.59 billion investment by Hyundai and LG. It is located in Bryan County, near Savannah. The factory is meant to produce electric vehicle batteries. It was scheduled to start production in early 2026. Now, delays are possible because of the raid and worker shortages .
South Korean securities firms warned that the incident might disrupt operations. It could also raise labor costs and affect future projects. The problems might hurt Hyundai's electric vehicle business in the U.S. .
The raid also highlighted broader issues with U.S. immigration enforcement. It was the largest single-site operation by Homeland Security Investigations. Advocates for immigrants called for the workers' release. They described the raid as traumatic and compared it to hunting animals .
Despite the tension, experts do not expect major retaliation from South Korea. The country depends on the U.S. for security against North Korea. Both nations have strong business and military ties. Still, the event has raised questions about the U.S. commitment to its allies .
An editorial in South Korea's largest newspaper questioned the meaning of the U.S. alliance. It asked whether investment benefits are stable across different U.S. administrations. The incident may have long-term effects on how South Korean companies view U.S. investments .
As the workers return home, attention turns to visa reforms. South Korea and the U.S. plan to create a working group on the issue. The group will discuss a new visa category for South Korean workers. This could help prevent similar conflicts in the future .
For now, the released workers are back with their families. But the memory of their detention may linger. It serves as a reminder of the challenges facing international workers and companies operating abroad.