A US immigration lawyer representing more than a dozen workers arrested at a Hyundai facility in Georgia last week said on Wednesday that many of the nearly 500 picked up appeared to be working legally, contradicting allegations by authorities.
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The lawyer, Atlanta-based Charles Kuck, said his clients included seven South Koreans who entered via the ESTA programme, for countries with visa-free travel to the US, or with B-1 visas for temporary business travel.
He said they were legally allowed to engage in specific work that was outlined in letters attached to their applications, including installing and calibrating battery equipment. US immigration authorities arrested 475 people at a Hyundai car battery plant near Savannah, Georgia, a large-scale operation that included the arrest of some 300 South Korean nationals.
The action, part of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown, came as the United States and South Korea are trying to reach a trade agreement.
On Wednesday, South Korea’s government said it was trying to fly the workers home.
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Widespread anti-immigrant operations spark fear in Asian communities across the US
Widespread anti-immigrant operations spark fear in Asian communities across the US
Foreigners entering the US through ESTA or with a B-1 visa generally cannot work, but can perform limited work activities under limited circumstances.