South Korean Workers Departing US After Immigration Detention

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

More than 300 South Korean workers released from detention following an immigration raid will return home on a charter flight. South Korean officials express concerns over the US visa system.

After being detained in a recent immigration enforcement operation at a Georgia battery factory, over 300 South Korean workers are en route to Atlanta where they will board a charter flight back to South Korea. The workers were among 475 detained, prompting calls from the South Korean government for improvements to the US visa system. They aim to avoid deportation, which may affect their future eligibility for US entry.

ATLANTA (AP) — Buses transporting workers from South Korea who were detained last week in an immigration raid at a Georgia battery factory made their way Thursday from a detention center to Atlanta, where a charter flight awaits their return.

More than 300 Koreans were among around 475 workers detained during the operation at a battery manufacturing site near Hyundai's auto plant in Savannah. The South Korean foreign ministry has confirmed that a Korean Air plane arrived in Atlanta and will depart at noon Thursday with the workers.

The detainees were held at the Folkston immigration center, located 285 miles southeast of Atlanta. South Korea's Foreign Ministry confirmed that 330 individuals, including 316 Koreans, were released. They will now travel to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and board a flight scheduled to land in South Korea Friday afternoon.

In addition to the South Korean workers, the group includes 10 Chinese nationals, three Japanese nationals, and one Indonesian individual.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the need for reforms in the U.S. visa system, suggesting that future investment from Korean companies in the U.S. could be affected by current policies.

South Korean officials sought to negotiate the terms of the workers’ departure, preferring voluntary departures over deportation to avoid hindering their ability to return to the U.S. for up to a decade.

During a visit to Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raised concerns over the public release of videos showing the arrests, describing the incident as causing significant distress. He requested the U.S. to assist in the swift departure of the workers, emphasizing the need to protect their future entry opportunities into the U.S.