SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — On Wednesday, a charter plane from South Korea departed for the United States to repatriate Korean workers detained during a major immigration enforcement operation in Georgia. A total of 475 workers, over 300 of whom are South Korean, were apprehended in the raid conducted by the U.S. Homeland Security on September 4 at a Hyundai-associated battery factory being constructed near Savannah. Video footage released by U.S. officials showed some detainees shackled with chains around their hands, legs, and waist, raising serious concerns about their treatment.
The South Korean government has since reached an agreement with the U.S. regarding the release of these workers, leading to the departure of the charter flight shown on South Korean television, which took off from Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning. Reports indicate that the plane is expected to bring the detained workers back to South Korea by Thursday afternoon.
This raid represents one of the largest enforcement actions undertaken by the U.S. as part of its ongoing immigration crackdown, specifically aiming to achieve what has been termed a mass deportation agenda. The operation specifically targeted Georgia, a state home to significant investments from South Korean companies, raising alarms about the potential impact on future business relations. Just weeks prior, South Korea had committed to billions in investments in the U.S. to facilitate trade agreements.
During this tumultuous time, President Trump openly remarked that the apprehended workers were in the U.S. illegally and emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to collaborate with other nations to ensure that American citizens are trained for specialized jobs, including those in battery and computer manufacturing.
The South Korean government has since reached an agreement with the U.S. regarding the release of these workers, leading to the departure of the charter flight shown on South Korean television, which took off from Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning. Reports indicate that the plane is expected to bring the detained workers back to South Korea by Thursday afternoon.
This raid represents one of the largest enforcement actions undertaken by the U.S. as part of its ongoing immigration crackdown, specifically aiming to achieve what has been termed a mass deportation agenda. The operation specifically targeted Georgia, a state home to significant investments from South Korean companies, raising alarms about the potential impact on future business relations. Just weeks prior, South Korea had committed to billions in investments in the U.S. to facilitate trade agreements.
During this tumultuous time, President Trump openly remarked that the apprehended workers were in the U.S. illegally and emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to collaborate with other nations to ensure that American citizens are trained for specialized jobs, including those in battery and computer manufacturing.
