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South Korean workers deported from Georgia
More than 300 South Korean nationals detained during a federal raid at the Hyundai electric vehicle plant in southeast Georgia are now on their way back to their country.
ATLANTA - More than 300 South Korean nationals detained during a federal raid at the Hyundai electric vehicle plant in southeast Georgia are now on their way back to their country.
The South Korean plane sent on Wednesday to pick them up departed Harstfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
What we know:
Overnight, the workers were released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in south Georgia near the Florida line. They were bused to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where a South Korean government-chartered plane awaited them.
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South Koreans expected to leave Thursday
More than 300 South Korean nationals detained during a federal raid at the Hyundai electric vehicle plant in southeast Georgia are expected to be flown home on Thursday.
South Korean officials said the flight was delayed Wednesday because of unspecified issues on the U.S. side. The workers departed on Thursday.
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South Korean plane leaves Atlanta
The South Korean plane carrying workers who were detained by ICE in South Georgia last week has left Atlanta. It departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11, 2025.
The backstory:
The arrests were made last week at the under-construction Hyundai battery plant west of Savannah. Federal officials said the workers either entered the country illegally, overstayed visas or came on visa waivers that do not permit employment.
After negotiations between U.S. and South Korean officials, they were released and bussed to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport before departing.
What they're saying:
Immigration attorney Charlie Cook, who represents some of the workers, said those detained were engineers and technicians brought in to get the plant operational and to train American workers. "It is traumatic. I'm sure they'll need some counseling after this," Cook said, adding that many were unprepared for what they experienced in detention.
"These are not people that have ever been in a jail before. This is a jail. It's not a, the detention center sounds nice. No, it's a jail and the first night was horrible. It was horrible over the course of the next five days. They accustomed, you know, they became accustomed to the rhythm of the place, but most of them will probably decide never to come back to the United States," Cook said.
The raid sparked concern from companies abroad, Cook added, saying executives are questioning whether it is safe to continue doing business in the United States.
The other side:
Governor Brian Kemp’s office issued a statement Wednesday emphasizing the state’s long-standing relationship with Korea. "We are thankful they are reiterating their commitment to adhere to all state and federal laws, just as we remain committed to not allowing this unfortunate incident to undo the decades of mutually beneficial partnerships we've built together," the statement read.
Hyundai’s CEO, speaking at a conference in Detroit, said the raid will delay construction at the Georgia plant by two to three months.
Dig deeper:
Hyundai and its partner LG face questions about possible labor violations at the site. Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said the company has agreed to follow all state and federal laws and emphasized that the incident should not overshadow decades of cooperation between Georgia and South Korea.
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