According to them, many were not here on tourist visas, but limited work visas.
The
B1 and combination B1/B2 visa — the kind held by several Georgia plant workers — is commonly used for business and tourism-related travel lasting less than six months, especially for consulting technical or scientific roles. A total of 4,906 B1/B2 visas were issued to South Koreans in the first five months of this year, according to government records, a small slice of the 2.86 million issued to all countries over the same period.
Robert Marton, an immigration lawyer with auto manufacturer clients other than Hyundai, said he had relied on B1 visas more in recent years as other programs for bringing in foreign workers had become more competitive.
They had already been chained and shackled. Since South Korea flew them home, there would be absolutely no reason for them to fly handcuffed, in humiliation.
I think the general feeling about the plight of the S. Koreans is outrage, not pity. Many do pity the plight of the poor Hispanic that works in the meat packing plant.
Yeah, I don't think that it will be only the S. Korean government reconsidering investing here.
Thanks for pointing out that some had short stay work visas but in researching I can't find the numbers. Here is one quote.
“We will discuss all measures, including creating a new visa category, establishing a new quota, and various steps to make obtaining a visa easier,” Cho told reporters as he returned home Friday. He said most of the detained workers had ESTAs, while others had short-term B-1 or B-2 visas and L-1 visas.
South Korean workers return home after days in detention following US immigration raid
ESTA's are defined here "South Korean companies have been mostly relying on short-term visitor visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to send workers who are needed to launch manufacturing sites and handle other setup tasks, a practice that had been largely tolerated for years."
So most apparently had ESTA's a clear violation.
As to shackles going home, should the more wealthy S. Koreans get a break that many others do not get?
Migrant deported in chains: 'No-one will go to US illegally now' Here we see Indian nationals going back on planes on handcuffs and leg shackles. perhaps though if they have their own plane this can be foregone?
I think we share similar views, it is not commonsense to export workers helping to build a factory. But I was using it as an example of the different tiers that immigrants face. Not only are their different tiers on how visas are processed or required, but here is an example of Trump giving S. Koreans illegals more mercy than he would most other nations. I would argue that all illegals that are contributing to the USA by working and not committing crimes be given mercy, even amnesty for some that have been here for years. And that if they are returned that shackles and chains for overstaying a visa is way over the top. Certainly we would not expect USA citizens to be treated that way, yet there are Americans that are illegally in countries all over the world.
Here is an example of a former sex offender being deported from Thailand. I would not care if he was in chains but I have yet to see any typical American that overstays their visitor visa treated poorly in Asian or EU nations.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailan...erican-teacher-with-child-sex-record-deported
Long overstays though can warrant detention. According to google's AI.
"South Korea addresses foreigner overstays through a system of fines, detention, and deportation, though it also offers
voluntary departure acceleration programs that can mitigate consequences like
re-entry bans for those with shorter overstays and no criminal records. Overstayers caught face immediate deportation and a ban, while those who voluntarily depart under amnesty programs may avoid penalties or receive shorter bans, depending on the length of their illegal stay."
It is good that Trump offers self deportation. However, I do think those illegals face re-entry bans. Of course the USA has some stiff requirements for obtaining a legal visa. Such requirements permanently shut America off to many, especially those from poor nations. Anyway, it is good that there is outrage because the US visa system is practically broken. I personally know Americans who suffer, or even refuse to return to the USA because of the treatment of the their foreign spouses. So it is not just businesses that should get improvements the whole system is clunky at best and severely handicapped or discriminatory at its worse.
www.politico.eu
