• South Korea will fly detained workers back home after a major immigration raid in Georgia.
• A total of 475 individuals were arrested, including over 300 South Koreans.
• South Korean Foreign Minister is negotiating with US officials for a resolution.
• There are concerns about the impact on future travel to the US for those detained.
• Public sentiment in South Korea reflects disappointment over the US enforcement actions.

South Korea is making arrangements to repatriate over 300 of its citizens detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor automobile battery plant in Georgia. This follows a significant raid that resulted in the arrest of a total of 475 individuals, prompting the South Korean government to send a **chartered plane** to facilitate their return as early as Wednesday, September 10, according to an official from Korean Air and the Southern Korean presidential office. This operation comes as the U.S. has vowed to ramp up **immigration enforcement targeting employers** involved in unlawful hiring practices, according to Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.

During the raid, which has been described as the largest single-site enforcement operation by the Department of Homeland Security, appalled reactions emerged from South Korea given its status as a key ally and investor in the US. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has traveled to Washington to negotiate conditions for the release of the detained workers, alongside discussions about improving the visa processes for Korean employees in the future. There are fears that some of those detained may face possible deportation and a five-year re-entry ban, as highlighted by several news agencies, including Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The detained individuals were reportedly found working in violation of the terms of their visas, as their employment at the construction site did not comply with U.S. immigration laws. Criticism surrounding the operation also arose from South Korean business communities, who disclosed that many workers had been sent over on visa waivers or other temporary permits, which complicated their legal standing, as noted by reports from Reuters and Channel News Asia.

As part of this delicate negotiation process, President Lee Jae Myung expressed a "heavy responsibility" for the detained workers while emphasizing the importance of a partnership with the U.S. to resolve these issues efficiently. An opinion poll revealed that about **60% of South Koreans** viewed the raid as excessive, highlighting a significant public sentiment that could impact diplomatic relations, reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters.