The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret that the rights of our citizens should not be arbitrarily infringed upon after U.S. authorities cracked down on the local factories of Korean corporations.
Spokesperson Lee Jae-yong pointed out on the 5th that "the economic activities of our investment companies and the rights of our citizens must not be unjustly infringed upon during the law enforcement process in the U.S."
The spokesperson added that "we dispatched the consul general of the South Korean Embassy in the U.S. and the consular officer of the South Korean consulate in Atlanta to the scene and are actively responding by organizing a task force centered around the local office," and emphasized that they communicated with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to convey our concerns and regrets, stressing the need to ensure the protection of citizens' rights.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reportedly conducted a large-scale crackdown on illegal immigrants at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint battery plant (HL-GA Battery Company) located in Savannah, Georgia, on the 4th (local time). In the process, approximately 450 foreigners were arrested, including dozens of employees who traveled from Korea.
The Korean workers arrested for illegal stay possession were said to have either held a "B1" visa issued for business meetings or contracts, or obtained an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the visa waiver program for tourism purposes. Utilizing ESTA for short-term work could lead to issues. Immigration authorities view it as exceeding the permitted duration of stay if the type of visa held does not match the purpose of stay.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated regarding this incident, "While we recognize the need for crackdowns in law enforcement, we requested the U.S. side to exercise strong caution to prevent unfair disadvantages to our citizens," and added, "We will make every effort to seek restitution for victims in the future."