South Korean workers and officials say companies were warned about questionable U.S. visa practices before last week’s raid on Hyundai’s car battery plant in Georgia, where more than 300 South Koreans were detained.
Federal agents detained 475 people at the near-complete Hyundai facility near Savannah in the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security. Many of those arrested were skilled technicians who had entered the U.S. on B-1 business visas or visa waiver programs, which generally do not permit employment.
Industry insiders said companies long relied on flexible interpretations of visa rules under previous administrations to bring in specialists for short-term assignments. But changes under President Donald Trump’s second term have tightened enforcement.
“It’s extremely difficult to get an H-1B visa, which is needed for battery engineers. That’s why some people got B-1 visas or ESTA,” said Park Tae-sung, vice chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association.
Contractors and technicians said they had repeatedly raised concerns. One worker recalled warning colleagues: “I begged them not to go to the United States again. They could screw up their lives if they are caught.”
LG Energy Solution (LGES), Hyundai’s partner in the project, confirmed 47 of its employees were arrested. The company said it had been “actively working to resolve visa issues” through legal briefings and added it warned remaining staff in the U.S. to leave or stay home. Hyundai said it has “zero tolerance” for violations and would investigate subcontractors’ practices.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged long-standing visa difficulties and has pressed Washington to consider a special visa category for skilled workers, similar to arrangements with Australia and Singapore. The issue is expected to top the agenda during the foreign minister’s visit to Washington this week.
The detainees in Georgia are expected to be deported, but the raid has cast a shadow over U.S.–South Korea trade ties. While President Trump has urged Korean companies to expand investment in the U.S., he also stressed firms must comply with immigration laws and train American workers.
U.S. officials previously warned Korean companies not to “cut corners” on visa applications. Commerce Department official Andrew Gately told firms in Seoul last year: “Please do not put your employees or the employees of your contractors at risk.”