Immigration and customs agents adhere to the workers who were arrested on a structure of the battery system because they violated the US immigration rules in Savannah, Georgia. It was reported that more than 300 Korean citizens were recorded during RAID. [SCREEN CAPTURE]
A Korean employee who holds a valid US employment permit was hundreds of immigration in Georgia in Georgia in LG Energy Solution-Hyundai Engineering Factory, whereby the criticism of Seoul about the legislator known as stubborn enforcement and a visa system that was exposed in Korea United States does not reflect, triggered.
According to MPs Han Jeg-Ae of the Democratic Party from the Foreign Ministry, Hyundai Engineering and LG Energy Solution, the employee had a employment authorization document (EAD) that legally allowed them to perform tasks. Despite the valid status, the employee was detained by the US immigration and customs authority in an “excessive” application of the law.
However, the majority of Koreans who were imprisoned in the RAID had registered ESTA-das Visa-Verszicht program or the short-term B1 business and the B2 tourist visa. Subcontractors without American subsidiaries were not entitled to long-term expatriate visa like the L1, so that they rely on the critics known as the “gap”.
Hyundai Engineering reported that 158 employees were arrested and arrested by subcontractors, including 67 Koreans. Of these, 60 ESTA permits, six B1 or B2 visa, and one had the EAD.
In contrast, none of the 68 employees of the company who held all L1 or E2 Expatriates -Visa was in the visrum.
Lig Energy Solution said that both headquarters and subcontractors were affected.
Among the 46 employees of the Korean headquarters traveled 24 under Esta and 22 on B1 or B2 visa. Of 204 employees of subcontractors, 86 ESTA permits and 118 were on B1 or B2 -Visa.
Rep. Han warned that the RAID will probably cause delays in the construction of the project of multibillion dollar battery systems in Georgia, in which Korean companies make some of their greatest investments in the United States.
“The USA's procedure on the construction site of the Georgia battery plant is expected to delay the construction by at least two to three months,” she said. “This incident shows that the US visa system cannot keep up with the reality of the growing investments in Koreas in the USA.”
The Legislator asked the Foreign Ministry to quickly move in the negotiations with Washington to ensure that Korean technicians who travel with B1 -Visa are allowed to work on factory construction shops. She also called for a more flexible edition of B1 -Visa for future business trips, and warned that a lengthy process for creating new visa categories or quotas could suspend Korean companies further risks.
A total of 317 employees associated with the Korean companies were arrested in the United States during the recent procedure. Of these, 316 has now returned to Korea on Friday, one of which remains in the United States.
By SEO Ji-Eun [[email protected]]
