Story perspectives

South Korean Workers Leave U.S. Amid Visa Crisis

9/11/2025

Center

South Korea Retrieves Workers

A South Korean charter plane will retrieve detained workers from the U.S. after an immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, though delays are anticipated.
Visa concerns are causing many South Korean workers to leave LG Energy Solution's U.S. sites, affecting projects and investments.
LG Energy has postponed the start of its EV battery plant in Georgia, initially set for production this year.
South Korean officials are negotiating with the U.S. for a separate visa quota for skilled workers to avoid future issues.
The raid has strained U.S.-South Korea relations, threatening a $350 billion investment agreement and raising concerns about foreign worker treatment.

Right

South Korea Faces Scrutiny

South Korean business leaders acknowledged misusing visa programs to hire U.S. workers, prompting scrutiny following an ICE raid.
The raid has raised concerns among Korean companies about potential operational impacts.
South Korea is pushing for the "Partner with Korea Act," seeking 15,000 skilled worker visas, though support is declining.
Over 20 Democratic lawmakers criticized the raid for targeting immigrants instead of addressing violent crime, advocating for due process for detained workers.
The UAW expressed solidarity with all workers against corporate exploitation and condemned the militarized immigration enforcement approach.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 aimed to reduce illegal immigration while establishing temporary worker programs. This legislation has led to ongoing challenges, including recent ICE raids at the Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia. As a result, South Korean officials are negotiating a separate visa quota for skilled workers, highlighting the complexities of U.S.-South Korea relations amid a $350 billion investment agreement.

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South Korea Retrieves Workers

A South Korean charter plane will retrieve detained workers from the U.S. after an immigration raid at the Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, though delays are anticipated.
Visa concerns are causing many South Korean workers to leave LG Energy Solution's U.S. sites, affecting projects and investments.
LG Energy has postponed the start of its EV battery plant in Georgia, initially set for production this year.
South Korean officials are negotiating with the U.S. for a separate visa quota for skilled workers to avoid future issues.
The raid has strained U.S.-South Korea relations, threatening a $350 billion investment agreement and raising concerns about foreign worker treatment.

1 / 3