The immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Folkston, Georgia, where employees of the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site, arrested by U.S. authorities in an immigration crackdown, are being held, on the 10th (local time). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the same day that the departure of the chartered plane intended to bring back Koreans detained by U.S. immigration authorities had been postponed due to circumstances on the U.S. side. Yonhap News. 

Around 300 South Koreans, who were scheduled to board a chartered plane bound for Korea on the 10th (local time), faced the bewildering situation of a "release delay" just 12 hours before their departure.

The immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Folkston, Georgia, illuminated brightly at 1 a.m. that day, appeared serene.

The detained Koreans were supposed to be released and transported to Atlanta Airport to board the chartered flight, but there was no sign of movement from buses or immigration officials for the large-scale transfer.

It was estimated that at least eight large buses would be needed to transport over 300 people simultaneously. However, only a couple of buses that had been parked at the facility since the previous day were visible; no multiple buses were lined up or entering the facility.

Then, around 2:50 a.m. (3:50 p.m. Korean time), when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the chartered flight's departure that day would be difficult, gasps of disappointment erupted among the domestic and foreign media present.

The situation had been anticipated to conclude that day, six days after the large-scale detention of Korean nationals began with a crackdown by U.S. immigration authorities on the 4th, attracting significant attention from both domestic and foreign media.

As it was an entirely unexpected development, reporters continued to arrive at the scene even after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announcement.

The bewilderment felt at the scene was amplified because while it was reported that the departure was delayed due to circumstances on the U.S. side, the specific reasons were not confirmed.

A considerable number of reporters had been waiting at Atlanta Airport since early that morning to cover the chartered flight's departure.

Reporters are waiting in front of the immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Folkston, Georgia, where employees of the Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site, arrested by U.S. authorities in an immigration crackdown, are being held, on the 10th (local time). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the same day that the departure of the chartered plane intended to bring back Koreans detained by U.S. immigration authorities had been postponed due to circumstances on the U.S. side. Yonhap News. 

Foreign media outlets, including NBC and CBS, which had shown great interest in the detention of Koreans, were also present at the scene but left empty-handed.

An NBC cameraman said, "I thought the bus departure was at 1 a.m., so I came and waited from 10:30 p.m. last night. It's not just 20 or 30 people, but over 300 people are being held, and it's a matter related to Trump's immigration policy, so we naturally have a lot of interest."

Officials from LG Energy Solution, who were traveling from near Savannah, Georgia, where their plant is located, to the Folkston detention facility that morning to assist their employees and those of their partner companies in boarding the chartered flight, were dismayed upon hearing the news of the departure delay.

Officials from LG's partner companies also revisited the Folkston facility that morning, concerned about their employees.

One official stated, "I heard the news at dawn and was so worried I couldn't sleep, so I came," adding, "I heard internally that ICE stopped their work around 11 p.m. last night while distributing personal belongings to prepare for the release, leaving about 70 to 80 people behind, and then they went home."

It is understood that some employees asked company officials to relay messages to their families before their release.

The official said, "One friend asked me to record and deliver a voice message to his wife and family, saying, 'I'm doing well, I'll see you soon.' His voice was bright, perhaps because he thought he would be released soon," he added.

One detained employee reportedly asked officials to tell his mother not to come to the airport, as he was concerned about the situation at the airport being crowded with families of repatriated employees.

LG's partner companies, anticipating their return, have collected the belongings of employees who remained in the U.S. LG Energy Solution plans to consolidate these and send them to Korea.

Previously, U.S. authorities arrested and detained 475 individuals, including about 300 Korean employees, at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution battery joint venture plant on the 4th. They determined that these individuals were either illegally staying in the country or working beyond the scope of their visa status.

The government had been in discussions with the U.S. to allow their departure in a manner of "voluntary departure" and to ensure no subsequent disadvantages, such as entry restrictions.

The chartered plane carrying the released Koreans was scheduled to depart around 2:30 p.m. on the 10th U.S. time. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the same day, "The departure of our citizens detained in Georgia on the 10th, local time, is difficult due to circumstances on the U.S. side."

It has been reported that the delay in departure that day was due to unresolved issues related to specific coordination regarding physical restraint measures such as handcuffs. With only technical coordination remaining, there are expectations that the repatriation of the detained Koreans could occur as early as the 11th, U.S. time.

Yonhap News