Loren Locke quoted about ICE raid at Hyundai-LG battery plant in The Vertical

Loren Locke, a former U.S. diplomat and founder of Locke Immigration Law noted that South Koreans qualify for visa waiver travel under ESTA, which allows them to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without first applying for a visa.

“They do not need to disclose their travel plans, and it’s up to them, together with their employers and legal counsel, to make sure that they perform activities that fall within the bounds of a ‘business visitor,’” Locke said.

She explained that what counts as permissible “business visitor” activity is highly nuanced and not something that can easily be determined during an ICE raid — particularly one conducted without interpreters present.

“In the case of this raid, it’s very likely that many of the detained business visitors were here to do the permissible business visitor activity ‘install, service, or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery purchased from a company outside the U.S.,’” Locke said.

“Before this unprecedented huge raid, it would not have been seen as particularly risky to send over workers to perform limited duties as business visitors,” she added.

https://thevertical.la/immigration/ice-raid-at-hyundai-lg-battery-plant-highlights-u-s-visa-risks-for-global-tech/