韓工廠工人美國遭大規模拘捕事件

2025年9月4日，美國喬治亞州 Ellabell 的現代—LG 電動車電池工廠建設工地上，突如其來的一場大規模移民執法行動，使這個原本象徵產業合作與新能源未來的工程，瞬間成為國際矚目的風暴中心。

當天清晨，美國國土安全部聯合多個執法單位，對正在施工的工地展開全面突擊檢查。短短數小時內，約475名工人被拘捕，其中超過300人是韓國公民，另有日本等其他國籍人士。這一規模，被媒體稱為「美國歷史上最大單一工地移民突襲」。

官方指稱，這些工人或是逾期居留，或持有與工作性質不符的簽證。雖然部分律師強調，多數韓國工人持有 B-1 商務簽證，允許短期進行安裝、監工與技術指導，但執法部門卻認定他們涉及「非法就業」。

現代汽車迅速聲明，強調被捕工人多為承包或分包商的雇員，並非公司直接聘用。LG 能源解決方案也承認其中有部分與公司相關人員，表示將積極配合後續調查。

韓國政府則嚴正表態，稱事件「嚴重且令人遺憾」。外交部立即派遣高層赴美交涉，並宣布將派出包機，接回選擇「自願離境」的工人，以保障國民權益，同時保留未來再度入境的可能性。這場突襲行動，不僅讓數百名工人及其家庭陷入困境，也使跨國企業對美國移民政策的嚴苛程度感到震驚。分析人士指出，若法律適用缺乏彈性，恐怕會削弱美國對外籍技術人才與跨國投資的吸引力，並在無形中加重企業用工的不確定性。

對韓國而言，此事既是外交挑戰，也是社會輿論的壓力。如何在保障國民安全、維護勞工權益與持續推進海外產業投資之間取得平衡，已成當務之急。

這起事件的核心，表面是移民執法，實則牽動法律、經濟與外交的三重矛盾。韓國工人被捕，不僅是一次跨國工地上的法律風暴，更折射出全球化時代下勞動力流動的脆弱與無奈。這場突襲提醒世人：在國際合作的宏大藍圖之下，人的命運，仍是最不容忽視的一環。

South Korean Workers Caught In U.S. Immigration Raid

On September 4, 2025, the construction site of the Hyundai–LG electric vehicle battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, became the center of international attention. What was intended to symbolize industrial cooperation and the future of clean energy suddenly turned into the stage for one of the largest immigration enforcement operations in recent U.S. history.

A Sudden and Sweeping Raid

At dawn, agents from the Department of Homeland Security, joined by multiple law enforcement units, swept across the construction site. Within hours, nearly 475 workers were taken into custody. More than 300 of them were South Korean nationals, alongside others from Japan and other countries. Media outlets immediately described the raid as “the largest single-site immigration enforcement action in modern U.S. history.”

Authorities claimed that many workers had overstayed their visas, or were engaged in employment not permitted under their visa category. Defense lawyers, however, argued that a large number of the Korean workers had entered the U.S. on B-1 business visas—visas that often allow short-term supervisory, installation, and technical guidance work. Immigration officials nonetheless classified their activity as “unauthorized employment.”

Reactions from All Sides

Hyundai swiftly issued a statement stressing that most of those detained were not direct employees, but rather subcontracted workers. LG Energy Solution similarly acknowledged that some of the detained individuals were affiliated with contractors linked to the company, pledging full cooperation with investigators.

The South Korean government responded with urgency, describing the incident as “serious and regrettable.” Seoul dispatched senior officials to Washington for emergency talks and announced plans to send chartered flights to bring home those who opt for “voluntary departure”—a measure that would preserve their ability to re-enter the United States in the future.

Broader Implications

The raid has cast a shadow not only over the futures of hundreds of workers and their families, but also over the perception of the United States as a destination for foreign expertise and investment. Analysts warn that rigid enforcement, without clear consideration of the nuances of visa categories, could erode America’s ability to attract skilled labor and increase uncertainty for global companies operating in the U.S.

For South Korea, this dramatic episode represents both a diplomatic challenge and a domestic political test. Balancing the protection of citizens abroad, the defense of labor rights, and the continuation of overseas industrial expansion have become urgent and pressing issues.

Conclusion

On its surface, this was just another routine immigration enforcement operation; in reality, it reveals a far more complex intersection of law, economics, and diplomacy. The detention of South Korean workers in Georgia represents more than a single-site labor dispute—it reflects the vulnerabilities of migrant labor in an era of global interdependence. Above all, it reminds us that behind the grand projects of international cooperation, the fate of individual workers remains the most fragile, and the most human element of all.