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South Korea's LG Energy was using US visa workarounds before Trump, documents show
LG Energy Solution advised employees to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization waiver to bypass visa rejections, with about 44% of workers detained under this program, lawmakers said.
- More than 300 South Korean workers, mainly from LG Energy Solution, were detained this month in the largest U.S. immigration raid near Savannah, Georgia.
- The raid responded to concerns over widespread use of ESTA visa waivers instead of appropriate B-1 visas amid tightening immigration enforcement under Trump’s administration.
- In March of the previous year, LG updated its internal guidelines to recommend that staff rely on the ESTA visa waiver program for brief assignments under one month, while also advising them to steer clear of mentioning "work" during interviews with U.S. customs officials to reduce suspicion.
- Lawmaker Han Jeong-ae referenced company figures indicating that 44% of the detained LG employees were traveling under ESTA, while a senior U.S. State Department official urged faster diplomatic discussions to align visa issuance with the significant role of Korean workers.
- The raid prompted South Korea and LG to advocate for clearer visa policies and possible new visa types to support bilateral investment and smooth business operations.
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Visa Loopholes and Detention: South Korea's LG Energy Solution Confronts U.S. Immigration Challenges
LG Energy Solution relied on ESTA visas for employees quickly entering the U.S. due to rising B-1 visa denials, causing issues amid Trump's immigration crackdown. Recent detentions during a Georgia raid spotlight difficulties faced by South Korean companies expanding in U.S. The incident calls for clearer visa policies.
·India
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South Korea's LG Energy was using US visa workarounds before Trump, documents show
South Korea's LG Energy Solution was using workarounds to U.S. visa restrictions well before Donald Trump returned as president and his administration launched a massive crackdown that detained hundreds of LG workers, internal documents show.
·United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources8
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
14%
C 57%
R 29%
Factuality
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