Repatriation of South Korean Workers After US Immigration Raid

Sat Oct 11 2025 13:49:38 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

More than 300 South Korean workers detained in a US immigration raid are returning home amid warnings about the implications for foreign investment.

In the aftermath of a significant immigration raid at a Georgia plant, over 300 South Korean workers are set to return home as concerns grow regarding the impact on investments from Korean companies in the US. The unexpected operation, which detained many workers allegedly employed without proper documentation, has prompted a response from both the South Korean government and Hyundai's leadership about future visa arrangements and the potential hesitance of firms to invest in the US.

More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia last week are due to arrive home on Friday.

Their return comes as the country's president and Hyundai's chief executive have warned about the impact of the raid.

A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers and 14 non-Koreans who were also detained in the raid took off from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at midday local time on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly chosen to stay in the US to seek permanent residency.

The plane is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport around 15:30 Seoul time (07:30 BST).

The departure was delayed by more than a day because of an instruction from the White House, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday.

President Donald Trump ordered the pause to check whether the workers were willing to remain in the US to continue working and training Americans, according to a South Korean foreign ministry official.

Lee also stated that companies would be very hesitant about investing in the US following the raid.

The situation is extremely bewildering, Lee added, while noting it is common practice for Korean firms to send workers to help set up overseas factories.

Lee emphasized, If that’s no longer allowed, establishing manufacturing facilities in the US will only become more difficult... making companies question whether it’s worth doing at all. Seoul is negotiating with Washington on visa options for South Korean workers.

Meanwhile, Hyundai's chief executive José Muñoz indicated that the raid would delay the factory's opening, potentially by two to three months.

Last week, US officials detained 475 people, more than 300 of whom were South Korean nationals, at the battery facility, which is one of the largest foreign investment projects in the state.

Media in South Korea described the raid as a shock, warning that it could have a chilling effect on business operations in the United States.

The timing of the raid raised concerns amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

The US government has defended the operation, asserting that it would not deter foreign investment.

As the South Korean government urges cooperation to repair the alliance, the White House has communicated its willingness to facilitate legal pathways for foreign companies adhering to immigration laws.