A chartered flight carrying over 300 South Korean detainees, who were arrested in a US immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, has landed in Incheon, marking the end of a week-long saga that rattled Seoul and cast a dark shadow over its ties with key ally Washington.
The raid, which resulted in the detention of 475 people, was described as the largest single-site enforcement operation carried out by the US Department of Homeland Security.
The South Korean government had lodged a strong protest with the US over the raid, demanding protection for its nationals and investors.
President Lee Jae-myung called the raid “bewildering” and warned it could deter future investment. The government dispatched diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in Atlanta to the site and planned to form an on-site response team centered on the local mission.
The raid was part of a larger investigation into labour practices at the site, with US authorities alleging that several individuals attempted to flee and ran into a sewage pond on the property.
A Hyundai spokesperson emphasized that the company was committed to complying with all laws and regulations in the countries where they operate.
However, the incident has raised concerns about foreign investment in the US, with South Korean politicians expressing regret over the incident.
The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the raid was part of a wider enforcement campaign against undocumented foreign workers.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson framed the Hyundai raid as part of this effort, emphasizing that President Trump would continue delivering on his promise to make the US the best place to do business while enforcing federal immigration laws.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lee Jaewoong, said during a televised address that the business activities of their investors and the rights of their nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the process of US law enforcement.
Industry executives warned that the arrests would delay construction at the $4.3 billion Georgia facility.
Labour groups in Seoul demanded accountability, with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions urging Trump to apologize and accusing his administration of violating human rights.
After negotiations between the US and South Korean governments, the detainees were allowed to return home voluntarily without visa restrictions.
US officials had initially insisted on deportation with restrictions on re-entry for at least five years, but the South Korean government successfully negotiated for more favourable terms.
The return of the detainees marks a positive development in the diplomatic row between the two countries.
However, the incident highlights the complexities and challenges of immigration enforcement in the US, particularly under the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented workers.
Labour groups in Seoul demanded accountability, with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions urging President Trump to apologize and accusing his administration of violating human rights.
This approach has raised concerns among business leaders, who warn that it could undermine industries that rely heavily on undocumented and seasonal workers not easily replaced with domestic labor.
As the US and South Korea continue to navigate their alliance, the incident serves as a reminder of the need for cooperation and understanding in addressing immigration issues.
The two countries will need to work together to ensure that the rights of nationals and investors are protected while also enforcing federal immigration laws. The outcome of this incident may set a precedent for future cases involving foreign workers in the US.
Meanwhile, the raid on South Korean Company Hyundai by the US immigration officers has been touted by critics of the Trump’s administration as deliberate in view of the very recent visit of the South Korean President to the White House.
Critics argued that the raid on the facility indicated Trump’s disregard for South Korea and it’s people.
They queired why a raid would be carried out on a multi billion dollar investment without first discussing it with the President of the country whom Trump claimed to have a ‘good relationship’ with.
Critics further argued that this portends Trump as a no friend of anyone except those he sees as possessing enormous power that could challenge his tyranny.
The world watches with bated breath whether the ‘good relationship’ Trump claimed to have with South Korea and it’s people would be sustained in the face of this global denigration as the detainees returns home.