SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean charter plane took off for the United States on Wednesday to repatriate Korean workers detained in an immigration raid in Georgia. The operation involved a total of 475 workers, with more than 300 identified as South Koreans, who were rounded up during a Homeland Security raid on September 4 at a battery factory being built near Hyundai's auto plant west of Savannah. Disturbing video released by U.S. authorities depicted some detainees in shackles, raising alarm over the treatment of individuals involved.
In response to the incident, the South Korean government announced that an agreement had been reached with the U.S. to secure the release of the workers. Korean television footage confirmed the charter plane's departure from Incheon International Airport, with reports indicating it is scheduled to return to South Korea with the workers by Thursday afternoon.
The raid is reported to be the largest carried out by U.S. authorities in their pursuit of a mass deportation agenda, particularly focusing on areas like Georgia where significant investments by South Korean companies are active. This operation comes shortly after South Korea pledged hundreds of billions in investments in the U.S. to negotiate tariff agreements.
U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the crackdown, emphasizing that the workers were “here illegally,” and urging cooperation with other nations to train American workers for specialized roles in industries such as battery and computer manufacturing.
In response to the incident, the South Korean government announced that an agreement had been reached with the U.S. to secure the release of the workers. Korean television footage confirmed the charter plane's departure from Incheon International Airport, with reports indicating it is scheduled to return to South Korea with the workers by Thursday afternoon.
The raid is reported to be the largest carried out by U.S. authorities in their pursuit of a mass deportation agenda, particularly focusing on areas like Georgia where significant investments by South Korean companies are active. This operation comes shortly after South Korea pledged hundreds of billions in investments in the U.S. to negotiate tariff agreements.
U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the crackdown, emphasizing that the workers were “here illegally,” and urging cooperation with other nations to train American workers for specialized roles in industries such as battery and computer manufacturing.
