South Korean president vows support to Koreans arrested in US immigration raid

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered all-out efforts on Saturday (Sep 6) to swiftly respond to the arrests of hundreds of the nation's citizens in a US immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor car battery factory.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the government has set up a team to respond to Thursday's arrest of over 300 Koreans at the facility in the southern state of Georgia and that he may go to Washington to meet with officials if needed.

"I am deeply concerned. I feel heavy responsibility for the arrests of our citizens," Cho told an emergency government meeting.

The incident followed a Aug 25 summit between United States President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and could exacerbate tensions between the Trump administration and Seoul, a key Asian ally and investor. 

They have been at odds over the details of a trade deal that includes US$350 billion of South Korean investment in the US.

South Korea's First Vice-Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo told US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker in a telephone call that it was regrettable the incident "occurred at a critical time, when the momentum of trust and cooperation between the two leaders, forged through their first summit, must be maintained," the foreign ministry said in a statement late on Saturday.

Park also asked Hooker to ensure a fair and swift resolution to the matter.

"The economic activities of our companies that have invested in the US and the rights and interests of our citizens should not be unfairly infringed upon during the course of US law enforcement," he said.

WORKERS SHACKLED

A video released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed Asian workers shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles getting on a bus after the raid, which involved a helicopter and armoured vehicles.

The arrest of some 475 workers, including over 300 Koreans, at the plant near Savannah, part of President Trump's escalating crackdown on immigrants, was the largest single-site enforcement operation in the US Department of Homeland Security's history.

In the video, hundreds of workers were standing up in front of a building, with some wearing yellow vests with names such as "Hyundai" and "LG CNS". 

Two of the workers hid in a pond before being arrested.

"We welcome all companies who want to invest in the US, and if they need to bring workers in for building or other projects, that’s fine – but they need to do it the legal way," Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N Schrank, said in a statement on Saturday.

"This operation sends a clear message that those who exploit the system and undermine our workforce will be held accountable."

Hyundai said it would investigate its suppliers and their subcontractors to ensure they meet regulations.

LG Energy Solution, which is working with Hyundai to build the factory, said it had asked employees to return from US business trips while suspending travel to the United States except for customer meetings.

LG Energy Solution said 47 of its employees and about 250 workers for contractors at the joint venture factory were detained.

The company said on Sunday it had sent a human resources executive to Georgia to "ensure the swift and safe release of those detained".

US lawmakers from Georgia and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus said on Saturday they were "deeply alarmed" by the massive raid.

"Instead of targeting violent criminals, the Trump administration is going after immigrants at work and in communities of colour to meet its mass deportation quotas. These senseless actions rip apart families, hurt the economy, and undermine the trust of our global partners," they said in a statement.

Trump, when asked about the raid, said on Friday: "I would say that they were illegal aliens and ICE was just doing its job."