Overview

• A group of 330 detainees, including 316 South Koreans, left the Folkston facility by bus for Atlanta to board a chartered Korean Air flight under voluntary departure rather than deportation.
• Seoul says the transfer will occur without handcuffs or other restraints and that detainees will not face disadvantages if they seek to reenter the United States.
• Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who conveyed that President Trump directed prompt consultations to align outcomes with South Korea’s requests.
• South Korea and the United States agreed to begin working-level discussions on a new visa category or similar fix to prevent future detentions tied to short-term skilled work.
• ICE reports 475 people were arrested in the largest single-site HSI enforcement, alleging illegal employment, while some lawyers dispute that characterization; President Lee warned the episode could dampen future Korean investment in the U.S.