South Korean Deportees!
Seoul, Sep 10 (EFE).-
A Korean Air charter flight departed from Incheon early Wednesday carrying over 300 South Korean workers detained in a U.S. immigration raid on a Hyundai and LG Energy Solution battery plant in Georgia, local media reported.
The Boeing 747-8i is scheduled to take off for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, then return to South Korea departing at 2:30 p.m. Atlanta time (6:30 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday, diplomatic sources cited by Yonhap News said.
Approximately 300 South Koreans were among the total 475 workers arrested last Thursday during a massive ICE-led operation. The detainees were held in Folkston, Georgia.
South Korea successfully negotiated their release on the basis of “voluntary departure,” which allows them to return home without a formal deportation—an outcome that helps preserve their ability to re-enter the U.S. in the future.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is traveling to Washington Wednesday morning to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aiming to discuss both the detained workers and revitalizing visa access for Korean technical professionals. EFE ge/lds
