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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed complaints by Korean companies about their workers getting caught at jobs in the United States without work permits.
“I called up the Koreans, I said, ‘Oh, give me a break,'” Lutnick told Axios, adding:
Get the right visa and if you’re having problems getting the right visa, call me. I’ll call [Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi Noem. We’ll help you get the right visa, but don’t do it the wrong way.
The dismissive response comes amid ample evidence that Korean companies have been smuggling ordinary construction workers into the United States on tourist visas. The law requires that foreign companies hire Americans and get L-1 visas for specialized trainers and equipment installers. There is no cap on the number of L-1 visas, so each has to be approved by embassy officials.
“Donald Trump requires you to do it correctly. You want to immigrate, you want to bring workers here, go through the right process,” Lutnik declared to Axios. “You can’t skirt the rules anymore. That is over.”
The evidence of visa evasion is so great that even the pro-migration New York Times acknowledged the problem in a September 12 article: --->READ MORE HERE
Hyundai and HL-GA Battery Company, the joint venture behind the battery plant, released statements last week confirming their cooperation with law enforcement
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said that the South Korean workers detained in the Hyundai-LG factory during an immigration raid were carrying “wrong” visas and that Hyundai Motor should have “called him” to get the right ones.
**"**I called up the Koreans, I said, oh, give me a break. Get the right visa and if you’re having problems getting the right visa, call me. I’ll call Kristi Noem. We’ll help you get the right visa, but don’t do it the wrong way," Lutnick told Axios.
He added, “You can’t do things the old way. Donald Trump requires you to do it correctly. You want to immigrate, you want to bring workers here, go through the right process. You can’t skirt the rules anymore. That is over.”
Over 300 South Korean workers were detained during an ICE raid at a battery factory under construction at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant in Georgia.
Hyundai and HL-GA Battery Company, the joint venture behind the battery plant, released statements last week confirming their cooperation with law enforcement. Hyundai later emphasised its “zero tolerance” policy toward legal violations and announced plans to conduct its own investigation to ensure all suppliers and subcontractors comply with immigration laws.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has said the two countries are discussing a possible improvement to the US visa system, adding that under the current system, South Korean companies “can’t help but hesitate a lot” about making direct investments in the US. --->READ MORE HEREFollow link below to a relevant story:
Explainer-Why South Korea Wants the US to Change Its Visa Policies
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