Some South Korean Workers Return to Georgia Factory After U.S. Reissues Visas

Background of the September Raid

In September, federal agents conducted a sweeping raid on a manufacturing plant in Georgia that employed dozens of South Korean nationals. The operation resulted in the detention of several workers on alleged immigration violations, prompting a diplomatic stir between the United States and South Korea.

State Department’s Decision to Reissue Visas

Following intense lobbying by immigration lawyers and diplomatic pressure from Seoul, the U.S. State Department announced this week that it would reissue the work visas that had been revoked during the raid. Attorneys representing the detained workers said the move was intended to “rectify a procedural error and restore the workers’ ability to resume lawful employment.”

Workers Begin Returning to the Plant

Within days of the announcement, a small group of the affected employees traveled back to the factory to resume their jobs. The company’s management expressed relief, noting that the return of skilled labor would help “stabilize production schedules that were disrupted by the raid.”

Key details of the return:

• Three workers arrived on Monday morning with newly issued H‑2B visas.
• The plant’s supervisor highlighted the workers’ expertise in specialized assembly processes.
• Company officials plan to coordinate additional travel for remaining staff as soon as the visas are processed.

Political Implications Under the Trump Administration

The visa reinstatement arrives at a time when the Trump administration is attempting to mitigate the political fallout from the September operation. Critics have accused the raid of being overly aggressive and damaging U.S.–South Korea relations. By restoring the visas, officials hope to demonstrate a willingness to “correct missteps” while maintaining a firm stance on immigration enforcement.

What Lies Ahead

Legal experts warn that the situation remains fluid. While the reissued visas provide a pathway for the workers to return, ongoing investigations could affect future hiring practices at the plant. Both the company and the workers are closely monitoring the developments, hoping for a swift resolution that allows normal operations to resume without further interruption.