South Korean workers detained in US raid arrive home

More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in a huge migration raid at the Hyundai Factory in Georgia, USA They reached their homeland.

Their return comes at a time when the country’s CEO and President of Hyundai warned of the impact of the raid.

A rented Korean aircraft carrying workers and 14 non -Koreans who also seized the raid is also less than Atlanta in the middle of the day on Thursday (17:00 GMT). According to what was reported, the South Korean citizen chose to stay in the United States to find permanent residence.

South Korean President Lee Jay Meongj said on Thursday that leaving was more than a day delay due to instructions from the White House.

President Donald Trump ordered to stop verify whether workers were ready to stay in the United States to continue work and train Americans, according to a South Korea Foreign Ministry official.

BBC called the White House to comment.

A large group of journalists met at Inchon International Airport before the workers arrived.

There were also a few people protesting the raid. One of them made a banner showing Trump in the costume of the immigration agent, with the comment: “We are friends! Isn’t it?”

Another protester has read: “The general anger at the detention of 300 Koreas, who dealt with the treatment like the main criminals! Why should I have to [we] Follow American investments after this duel? “

South Korea Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday that returning workers had requested privacy.

Security was narrow at the airport, as the officers directed other travelers to its doors that workers were not used by them.

The companies will be “Very hesitant” about investing in the United States After the raid, South Korean President said on Thursday.

“The situation is very confusing,” he added, noting that one of the common practices of Korean companies is to send workers to help create factories abroad.

“If this is no longer permitted, creating manufacturing facilities in the United States will become more difficult … to make companies wonder whether it is worth doing at all.”

Seoul is negotiating with Washington on visa options for South Korean workers “whether it means securing [higher] Classes or create new visa categories, “told me.

On Friday, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said it has called on the US conference to support a new visa for Korean companies.

The ministry said in a statement that during the meetings with US Senate members in Washington this week, Foreign Minister Zhou Hyun repeated concerns among the South Koreans about the arrests.

Meanwhile, CEO of Hyundai Jose Montes said The raid will delay the opening of the factory.

Mr. Montes told the media that the raid will create “a delay of less than two to three months [in opening the factory] Because all of these people want to return. “

Last week, US officials detained 475 people – More than 300 of them are South Korean citizens – who said they illegally work in the battery facility, one of the largest foreign investment projects in Georgia.

Many of its employees who have been arrested have different types of visas or were under the visa waiver program.

A The factory worker spoke to the BBC About panic and confusion during the raid. The employee said that the vast majority of detained workers are mechanics who install production lines on the site, and they were working by the contractor.

South Korea, a close ally in Asia, has pledged to invest tens of billions of dollars in America, partly to compensate for definitions.

The media in the country described the raid as a “shock”, with the Dong-A ILBO warning that it could have “a chilling effect on our business activities in the United States.”

YonhaP news agency published an editorial on Thursday, urging the two countries to “cooperate to repair cracks in their alliance.”

The timing of the raid, as the two governments participated in sensitive trade talks, sparked anxiety in Seoul.

The White House defended the operation at the Hyundai factory, and rejected fears that the raid could deter foreign investment.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump referred to the raid in a social media post and called on foreign companies to employ Americans.

Trump said that the United States government will make “possible and legal strength” to foreign companies to bring workers to the country if they respect immigration laws.