U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to improve entry procedures for foreign corporate experts building factories in the United States, so that incidents like the recent detention of Korean workers in Georgia do not recur.
On the 27th (local time), aboard his plane bound for Japan, President Trump met with reporters and, when asked whether the Korean government had requested visa-related guarantees after the immigration crackdown in Georgia, said, "This is something that applies to the whole world, not just Korea."
Earlier, on Sept., U.S. immigration authorities raided a battery factory construction site in Georgia jointly invested in by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, classified some 300 Korean workers who had entered on B-1 visas or through the visa waiver Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) as illegal stayers, and detained them. They were released after about a week following diplomatic consultations between Korea and the United States, but the incident sparked calls to overhaul the visa system to allow the lawful entry of foreign technical personnel.
President Trump said, "When foreign corporations build factories that handle complex and precise machinery, they must have their own experts on site at the outset," adding, "In fields like battery production that are hazardous and require advanced technology, you cannot just deploy anyone."
He avoided giving specifics on whether a new visa system or entry program would be introduced, but said, "We are preparing a completely new plan," adding, "However, this system will not be permanent and will be adjusted gradually."