U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Regrets Immigration Raid on South Korean Workers

Detected linkable resources in order of appearance:
1. U.S. Department of State (uscis_resource, mentioned once)
2. U.S. Department of State at https://www.state.gov (policy, mentioned once)
3. visa category tailored to project-based skilled workers (policy, mentioned once)
4. B-1/B-2 visas (policy, mentioned once)

Now the article with up to five .gov links added. I will only add links for the first mention of each resource in the article body text and use exact resource names as they appear.

(GEORGIA) A top U.S. diplomat has expressed regret over a sweeping immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia that detained more than 300 South Korean workers, escalating into a diplomatic flashpoint between Washington and Seoul.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau delivered the apology on September 14, 2025, in Seoul, 10 days after the September 4 operation that rounded up a total of 475 people at the construction and operations site. The workers were held for about a week and then flown home on a charter arranged by South Korea, landing on September 12 to intense media coverage and relief from families.

Landau told reporters that President Trump would ensure the detained workers “would not face disadvantages if they sought to re-enter the U.S.,” underscoring the administration’s view that Korean professionals tied to major manufacturing projects are, in his words, “the kind of visitors we want, who are creating American jobs and prosperity right here at home.” The remarks signal Washington’s attempt to stabilize a crisis that rattled investors, triggered public anger in South Korea, and raised questions about how the United States 🇺🇸 admits skilled foreign technicians for large, time-bound projects.

The immigration raid—among the largest in recent U.S. history—unfolded amid a broader 2025 enforcement drive featuring aggressive removals and closer cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. Multiple agencies participated in Georgia, including:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Workers recounted being shackled, held in cold conditions, and given inadequate food. Images of people in handcuffs spread quickly across Korean media, sparking outrage and prompting urgent calls from Seoul for clearer visa rules for business travelers and project-based specialists.

Diplomatic fallout and policy signals

On September 14, Landau met First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo in Seoul and expressed deep regret, proposing to use the incident as a turning point to improve the visa system for Korean professionals.

He emphasized the importance of Korean investment in U.S. manufacturing, noting ongoing and planned projects in batteries and semiconductors. According to South Korean officials, the United States agreed to speed up working-level talks to prevent similar incidents and to better align visa issuance with the scale of Korean investment.

Key Korean requests and U.S. responses:

• Seoul has pressed Washington to create a new visa category tailored to project-based skilled workers from Korea and to publish clear guidelines for business visas.
• Without predictable pathways, Korean companies say they are forced to rely on short-term B-1/B-2 visas and the Visa Waiver Program, arrangements that can clash with U.S. rules on permissible activities.
• Landau conveyed that President Trump is “highly concerned” and supportive of ensuring no future disadvantages for the affected workers. U.S. officials have assured detainees will not face bars to future entry, though practical visa pathways remain under negotiation.
• Both sides say consultations are underway, with an aim to issue new guidance within months.

Workers’ treatment and business repercussions

Accounts from detained workers—describing shackling and poor conditions—continue to fuel public anger in South Korea and scrutiny from human rights observers.

• The South Korean government chartered a flight for the workers’ return and coordinated with U.S. authorities to expedite processing.
• Families expressed relief when loved ones landed on September 12, but concerns remain about safety and dignity for employees assigned overseas.

At stake is not only individual welfare but also the future of large-scale manufacturing projects that depend on rapid, specialized know-how. Companies like Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution rely on teams who can install equipment, integrate software, and troubleshoot complex systems on tight timelines.

Business and policy implications:

• The absence of a clear, long-term visa option forces a patchwork approach that can break down under strict enforcement.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com frames the Georgia raid as a case study in how policy gaps collide with high-speed industrial investment.
• Immigration lawyers warn that even without long-term bars, large raids have a chilling effect: workers may hesitate to travel and companies may slow or shift investment pending legal clarity.

The broader enforcement trend in 2025 has sharpened these risks, with removal operations up and interagency cooperation widened. In Georgia, the scale of the operation—armed agents, mass detention, multi-agency presence—sent a stark message to employers and workers alike.

Seoul’s demands and possible solutions

Seoul’s requests are straightforward:

• Publish clear rules for business travel.
• Design a dedicated visa pathway for Korean professionals tied to major investment projects.

Korean officials argue these steps are essential to keep supply chains on track and safeguard workers on U.S. soil. The South Korean president warned that without a better system, firms could rethink future projects in the United States.

Practical steps under discussion include:

1. Formal guidance on what short-term visitors may do at job sites.
2. Options for longer, project-bound stays.
3. Coordination so U.S. consular officers and employers share consistent expectations.

Business groups want a solution that avoids last-minute visa scrambles and reduces the chance of site-level enforcement disrupting production.

Local and regional stakes

In Georgia, local leaders are closely monitoring developments. The Hyundai-LG battery plant is part of a regional strategy to build an electric vehicle manufacturing hub.

• Disruptions at a site that employs and trains local workers carry economic and political costs.
• State and local officials, while not parties to federal visa policy, often mediate with employers and now face community questions about project schedules and enforcement risks.

Diplomatic analysts view this moment as a potential window for reform. The U.S. has long lacked a visa tailored to short-term, highly skilled, project-based assignments that fall between routine business visits and permanent employment.

A bilateral solution with South Korea could set a model for other partners, but it will require:

• Clear definitions of covered activities and durations
• Employer compliance safeguards
• Training so front-line officers and companies interpret rules consistently

Immediate outlook and next steps

For workers, the immediate concern is whether they can return to finish projects without fear. U.S. officials say the detained group will not face re-entry penalties, but uncertainty remains until new rules are issued.

Employers are responding by:

• Reviewing travel lists
• Scaling up compliance checks
• Seeking legal advice on activities that fit within current visitor rules versus those requiring employment authorization

Readers seeking official updates on visa policy and consular guidance can monitor the U.S. Department of State at https://www.state.gov, which posts policy notices and travel information. Government statements remain limited to assurances that detained workers will not face future disadvantages and that talks with Seoul are in progress.

The raid’s legacy in Georgia may be decided by what comes next: whether Washington and Seoul can agree on a pathway that keeps factories running, protects workers, and provides the legal certainty large projects need. When immigration law and industrial policy fall out of sync, the fallout reaches families, factories, and the alliance itself.