Raided South Korean workers leave U.S. as Trump offer stalls

First, the detected resources in order of appearance:
1. U.S. Department of State: Business (B-1) and Tourism (B-2) Visas (mentioned in body)
2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE (policy) (mentioned in body)

I have added only .gov links for the first mention of each resource, up to the 5-link maximum, and made no other changes.

(GEORGIA, UNITED STATES) A sweeping immigration raid at Hyundai’s battery plant in Georgia on September 4, 2025 has spiraled into a diplomatic and economic standoff between the United States 🇺🇸 and South Korea, with 475 workers detained, including 300 South Koreans on short-term assignments. Many held B-1/B-2 business visitor visas, and Korean companies now warn they could pull or delay up to $350 billion in U.S. investments if visa rules for technical staff aren’t clarified and reformed.

Despite temporary offers to remain in the country, most affected Korean workers have chosen to leave, citing legal risk and no clear protection under current categories.

Political and diplomatic reaction

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung condemned the immigration raid and tied future investment to a fix that allows skilled Korean technicians to enter the U.S. lawfully to set up equipment and train local hires.

The raid occurred weeks after a summit between former President Trump and President Lee, and just days after Seoul’s large pledge to build and expand battery plants, semiconductor fabs, and other facilities across several states. The timing has chilled goodwill and rattled boardrooms, especially in advanced manufacturing where tight timelines depend on rapid deployment of factory setup teams.

Visa rules at the center of the dispute

At issue is the B-1 business visitor visa, long used for short-term technical assignments when workers stay on foreign payrolls. Korean legal representatives argue the detained workers were performing tasks typically allowed under B-1, such as installing equipment and training U.S. staff. U.S. authorities, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allege some workers crossed the line into unauthorized labor.

This highlights a long-standing gray area: how to draw the line between permitted “business” activities and work that requires employment authorization.

For official guidance on what the B-1/B-2 categories cover, readers can review the U.S. Department of State: Business (B-1) and Tourism (B-2) Visas. While the government describes common B-1 uses, enforcement in the field often hinges on the exact tasks performed, employer-employee relationships, and payment arrangements. This gap between policy language and on-site practice has now become a flashpoint with global investment on the line.

Key takeaway: The difference between permitted “business” activities and unauthorized employment often depends on practical details — task lists, who pays wages, and how work is documented.

Rapid diplomacy and a proposed visa solution

Seoul’s foreign minister flew to Washington within days of the raid, and both governments agreed to form a joint working group. Its mandate is to review current categories, enforcement patterns, and propose either a new visa or changes to existing ones that would cover short stints by specialized technicians.

Officials are studying models such as:
– E-3 visa for Australians
– H-1B1 for Singaporeans

Both were created under free trade agreements, though no similar category exists for Koreans despite the U.S.-Korea pact.

Working group tasks

The working group is tasked with:
1. Reviewing visa categories used for technical setup, including boundaries between business visitors and employment-based roles.
2. Proposing a tailored visa pathway or a clear expansion of existing categories for short-term technical work.
3. Drafting compliance rules and training guidance so companies and workers know what is allowed and how to document it.
4. Reducing uncertainty for joint ventures in automotive batteries, semiconductors, and heavy industry.

Industry leaders from Hyundai and other Korean firms argue that U.S. plants need foreign experts, especially during installation phases when local teams are still training. U.S. immigration officials respond that even vital projects must follow existing law, and that clear guardrails are needed to prevent abuse and protect labor standards.

Human and business fallout

Many of the detained workers had come for a few weeks or months to get lines running and then return home. After the immigration raid, they faced detention, interviews, and new legal exposure.

Without a shield that spells out what tasks are allowed, the safest choice for many was to board a plane back to South Korea instead of taking short-term offers to remain.

The stakes extend beyond one Hyundai facility. Korean companies are building more than 20 major industrial sites in the U.S., from battery plants in Georgia to fabs in Texas and a shipyard project in Philadelphia.

If the working group fails to reach a fix soon, companies warn of:
– Delays and cost overruns
– Possible withdrawals from the U.S. market
– Risks to thousands of American jobs and billions in local spending

Trade and immigration experts caution that unresolved rules could make the U.S. a riskier destination for high-tech manufacturing, pushing projects to countries with clearer short-term technician visas.

Analysis and proposed options

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the clash underscores a basic mismatch between modern factory ramp-up needs and visa categories written for another era. Business visitor rules were never designed for the scale and complexity of today’s battery and chip projects, where hundreds of foreign specialists may rotate in for phased installs, testing, and training.

A purpose-built visa could add certainty while preserving oversight.

The working group’s options include:
– A limited, fast-track visa category for short-term technical deployments tied to major investment projects, with strict compliance reporting.
– An expansion or formal interpretation of current categories to cover defined installation and training tasks, backed by clear examples and enforcement guidance.
– A pilot program that tests documentation standards and employer obligations at selected sites, evaluated after a fixed period.

Practical guidance for companies now

While talks continue, companies face near-term staffing questions. Lawyers suggest:
– Conduct risk-based reviews of assignments
– Create clear scopes of work for short-term technicians
– Maintain tight documentation of who pays wages and how tasks map to B-1 allowances

But without a new category—or a public enforcement memo that narrows ambiguity—every task list remains a potential test case.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE maintain that rules apply as written and that unauthorized labor will face action. Korean ministries seek immediate clarity and a durable pathway for specialized technicians. Business groups on both sides urge a quick, transparent outcome so projects can resume with confidence.

Warning: Timing is critical. Plant schedules are tight, and each delay ripples through supplier networks. If talks stall, Korean firms say they may delay or cancel planned U.S. projects.

What’s next

Whatever shape the solution takes, timing is everything. If the talks succeed, they could set a model for handling short-term technical work across advanced industries—balancing lawful entry, fair labor rules, and the speed modern manufacturing demands.

For now, tension remains high, the Hyundai immigration raid continues to echo across boardrooms, and skilled teams from South Korea are waiting for a green light that has yet to come. Officials on both sides say further announcements are expected in the coming weeks as negotiations continue.