In a revealing turn of events, internal documents from LG Energy Solution have shed light on the company’s strategies to circumvent U.S. visa restrictions, a practice that predates the recent immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. The South Korean battery giant has been advising its employees and subcontractors to utilize the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program, bypassing the more stringent B-1 business visa application process, which has seen high rejection rates. This approach, detailed in August 2023 guidelines, was implemented to facilitate short-term assignments in the U.S., particularly for high-tech plant operations. However, the reliance on ESTA has come under scrutiny following the detention of over 300 Korean workers, including 250 LG employees and contractors, in what has been described as the largest immigration raid by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The incident, which occurred at LG’s car battery venture with Hyundai Motor near Savannah, Georgia, has sparked significant concern in South Korea, a key U.S. ally and investor. The Trump administration has indicated a willingness to revise visa policies to accommodate South Korean investment, but the widespread use of ESTA waivers highlights the challenges faced by South Korean companies in navigating U.S. immigration enforcement. LG has since updated its guidelines, recommending appropriate visas for longer assignments and advocating for clearer interpretations of visa regulations to ensure smoother business operations.
Exclusive: South Korea’s LG Energy was using US visa workarounds before Trump, documents show
