【By Guanchazhe.com, Chen Sijia】On September 10, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that more than 300 South Korean citizens detained by U.S. immigration authorities could not depart for South Korea as planned on local time on the 10th due to reasons related to the U.S. side.

According to Reuters, last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched an enforcement operation targeting undocumented immigrants in Georgia, raiding a car battery factory jointly built by South Korean Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution with an investment of 4.3 billion U.S. dollars, detaining 475 people, including more than 300 Koreans. This was the largest single-site law enforcement action in the history of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's investigation operations.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security May said that most of those detained in this operation will be deported. On the 7th, the South Korean government stated that the detained workers were mainly employed by subcontractors, and discussions on releasing the workers have basically ended, with South Korea and the United States planning to make arrangements for these South Korean citizens to return home by chartered flights.

The report states that the detained individuals will be taken by bus to Atlanta airport, and the chartered flight was originally scheduled to take off at 2:30 p.m. local time on the 10th (2:30 a.m. Beijing time on the 11th) heading to South Korea. However, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 10th that due to reasons from the U.S. side, the plane could not take off as planned, and the departure time had been postponed.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose specific details. The statement said that South Korean officials are maintaining communication with the U.S. to ensure the detained individuals return to South Korea as soon as possible. The U.S. State Department responded that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Zhao Xian on the 10th local time, and both sides will discuss this issue.

Yonhap News Agency disclosed that the South Korean chartered flight had already departed from Incheon Airport earlier on the 10th according to the schedule, heading to the U.S., but the situation suddenly changed. A South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "We also need to understand the details."

However, Kim Yong-beom, head of the policy office at the South Korean presidential office, stated on the 9th that South Korea and the U.S. are finalizing administrative procedures to discuss how to transport South Korean employees from detention locations to the airport. "When using buses for transportation, local law enforcement insisted on taking certain measures, such as restraining their hands. We are making every effort to confirm each item in the final administrative procedure negotiations to ensure these practices are not adopted," he said.

Therefore, some analysts believe that the requirements proposed by U.S. law enforcement agencies, such as whether to restrain the detained individuals according to the U.S. immigration enforcement practice, may have hindered the negotiations between the two countries. Yonhap News Agency added that even without special differences, the administrative procedures involved in releasing hundreds of people may require more time.

Video screenshot of the U.S. immigration enforcement agency's raid on the joint battery plant of South Korean Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution on September 4, local time

Reuters pointed out that the strict visa restrictions imposed by the U.S. on foreign technical workers have caused dissatisfaction among South Korean companies. These companies complain that the visa restrictions make it difficult for them to monitor the construction of factories in the U.S. or train local labor forces. A South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "Both sides are striving to resolve this issue to support South Korean companies in the U.S."

U.S. President Trump posted on social media on the 7th that if foreign companies comply with U.S. immigration laws, the U.S. would "quickly and legally" allow foreign company employees to enter the country. White House spokesperson Levitt said on the 9th that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Commerce are working together to address this issue.

Bloomberg reported that this incident has impacted South Korea and caused tension in U.S.-South Korea relations. Many South Korean companies' projects in the U.S. have been suspended, and an insider revealed that LG Energy Solution has issued an internal notice urging all employees and contractors who entered the U.S. through the short-term visa-free program to return immediately, while advising those holding B-1 visas to stay in hotels.

The report pointed out that South Korea plays an important role in establishing an electric vehicle battery supply chain in the U.S., but this incident has cast a shadow over the prospects of South Korean companies, and also poses a risk to South Korea's promised 350 billion U.S. dollar investment plan.

Amid the friction caused by the U.S. immigration enforcement action, South Korea and the U.S. are trying to reach a trade agreement. In July, the U.S. and South Korea announced a trade agreement, with South Korea pledging to invest 350 billion U.S. dollars in the U.S. and purchase energy products worth 100 billion U.S. dollars, such as liquefied natural gas, in exchange for the U.S. reducing the tariff rate on South Korean exports to the U.S., including automobiles, to 15%.

However, South Korea and the U.S. still have differences in the details of the investment plan, and have not yet reached an agreement on the operational model of the investment. Kim Yong-beom, head of the policy office at the South Korean presidential office, warned on the 9th that if the two sides cannot reduce their differences, not only will the investment be difficult to implement, but the project to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry promoted by the two countries may also fail.

This article is exclusive to Guanchazhe.com. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7548434163243483683/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking the [Up/Down] buttons below.