Some Korean nationals detained in megasite raid were here legally, attorney says
BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - 80 to 90 of the Korean nationals that were detained in ICE’s raid of the Hyundai megasite on Thursday were here legally, according to an immigration attorney.
According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 475 people were detained during the raid. The operation targeted the HL-GA Battery Company construction site, which is a project owned jointly by Hyundai and LG. HSI says the people that were detained weren’t just employees of the battery company, but a variety of subcontractors, as well.
Woon Kim, a Duluth-based immigration attorney, says many of those that were detained by ICE had traveled to the Hyundai megasite to provide proprietary expertise, necessary to get the battery plant built and ready to support the Metaplant, Hyundai’s new electric vehicle factory.
Typically, Kim says someone that falls under that category would travel to the United States on an E-2 visa, which allows people from foreign countries that have made an investment in the US to help develop that investment.
However, in recent months, Kim says it’s become difficult to secure that type of visa even though it’s necessary for the megasite’s development.
“It’s really difficult to obtain the approval for that application for some reason. So, as an attorney, even though there are a lot of cases satisfying all the legal requirements for the E2, still, the officers, you know, denied the visa applications. So that’s why, uh, the situation left the Korean, the companies, uh, struggling to seek, to secure the necessary expertise here in the United States,” says Kim.
READ: Illegal labor, exploitation of workers at center of Hyundai megasite raid
Again, Kim says there were at least 80 to 90 people that were wrongfully detained, but the difficulty it takes to obtain the proper paperwork could be why some people were working on improper visas.
We reached out to ICE to ask them about this. A spokesperson maintained every single person detained was working illegally.
South Korea and the US have come to an agreement to fly detained Korean nationals back home. Kim says he believes that’ll happen Wednesday.
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