VISA ISSUES
The sprawling Hyundai campus was expected to create more than 8,500 jobs and transform the area’s economy.
But the fallout from the raid has been far-reaching, straining diplomatic ties between Washington and Seoul.
Most of the workers detained were in the United States under a 90-day visa waiver programme, commonly referred to as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), or B-1 business traveller visas.
In the days following the raid, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said companies would most likely hesitate to make future investments in the US unless the visa system was improved.
Asked on Monday (Oct 27) about the immigration raid during his visit to South Korea, US President Donald Trump said an improved visa system would make it easier for firms to bring in skilled workers.
The US currently lacks a visa suited for specialised technicians temporarily working at investment sites while being paid by a foreign company.
“There isn’t a visa that was really designed for this purpose, even though we know it’s in our national interest (and that) it’ll create jobs,” said Julia Gelatt, associate director of the US immigration policy programme at American think-tank Migration Policy Institute.
“So we’re seeing companies bend the rules,” she added, noting that it is common practice for firms to bring workers in on the B-1 visa or on the ESTA.
