'We are deeply concerned over arrest of our nationals': South Korean FM amid crackdown by US immigration authorities
Seoul [South Korea], September 7 (HBTV): The South Korean government has expressed deep concern after more than 300 of its nationals were arrested by US immigration authorities at a Hyundai manufacturing site in Georgia, Yonhap News reported.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Saturday chaired an emergency meeting in Seoul, confirming that out of 457 people taken into custody, over 300 were South Koreans. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had activated its Overseas Citizens Protection Task Force.
‘We are deeply concerned and feel a heavy sense of responsibility over the arrests of our nationals,’ Cho stated, stressing that the economic activities of South Korean companies investing in the United States should not be unjustly infringed upon during law enforcement operations. He also instructed officials to provide active consular support for those detained.
Cho further said Seoul might send a senior foreign ministry official to the site without delay, and, if necessary, he would personally travel to Washington to hold consultations with the US administration.
According to Yonhap News, First Vice Minister of South Korea Park Yoon-joo spoke with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. Park conveyed Seoul’s regret over the arrests and the release of footage showing South Korean nationals being detained. Hooker assured that the US State Department was closely monitoring the situation.
American authorities described the arrests as part of a criminal probe into alleged violations of immigration and employment rules. Homeland Security officials said those detained included individuals who overstayed visas or entered through visa waiver programmes that prohibited them from working. Most of them are being held at a detention facility in Folkston, Georgia.
US President Donald Trump defended the crackdown, calling those arrested ‘illegal aliens’ and saying immigration officers were ‘just doing their job.’
The arrests came only weeks after Washington and Seoul concluded a major trade agreement in July. Trump had hailed the deal as ‘historic,’ outlining a 15 per cent tariff on South Korean exports, a USD 350 billion investment commitment to US projects, and USD 100 billion in energy purchases.
During a visit to India in August, Cho had described the trade deal as a ‘win-win’ outcome despite global trade tensions.
‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to make every best effort to resolve this issue as soon as possible,’ Cho said, adding that the government remains committed to protecting the rights and interests of South Koreans working overseas.
(ANI)