SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean charter plane departed on Wednesday to repatriate workers detained during a U.S. immigration raid. The raid occurred on September 4 at a battery factory under construction connected to Hyundai's auto plant near Savannah, leading to the arrest of 475 individuals. Video footage released by U.S. authorities showed some of the detained workers shackled during the operation. In response to this incident, South Korea's government negotiated the release of the workers with U.S. officials. The charter plane was seen taking off from Incheon International Airport, expected to return with the detainees by Thursday afternoon. This U.S. raid, considered the largest under its current mass deportation policies, targets many South Korean firms active in Georgia, a state pivotal for future investment projects. U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that the workers were in the country illegally, emphasizing the need for collaboration with other nations to fill specialized job roles.
South Korea Sends Charter Plane to Bring Back Workers Detained in Georgia
South Korea Sends Charter Plane to Bring Back Workers Detained in Georgia
A South Korean charter plane is on a mission to bring home workers caught up in a recent immigration raid in the U.S. This operation follows an unprecedented sweep targeting a Hyundai construction site.
In a major immigration enforcement action, a U.S. raid took place at a Hyundai battery factory site in Georgia, detaining 475 workers, including over 300 South Koreans. Following an agreement between the South Korean and U.S. governments, a charter plane departed from Seoul to retrieve the detained workers. U.S. President Trump defended the actions, stressing the importance of training Americans for specialized jobs.
