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In at least one case, a worker had a valid visa: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/hyundai-factory-ice-raid-legal-visa https://www.theguardian.com

In at least one case, a worker had a valid visa: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/hyundai-factory-ice-raid-legal-visa https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/hyundai-fact...

themaninthedark 1y ago
It looks to me like they may have been in breach of their visa depending on the work they were doing: A B-1 / B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States temporarily for business (B-1), tourism (B-2), or a mix of both (B1/B2). https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/b-1-b-2-visitor-visa-explained/ https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/b-1-b-2-visi... B1 Visa Subcategories and Special Cases While the B-1 visa generally restricts employment and formal education, there are some exceptions under specific circumstances. These exceptions aren’t separate visa categories but annotations considered by the U.S. consular officers during the visitor visa application process. Here’s a closer look at these special B-1 subcategories: B-1 after-sales service visa: Companies selling equipment to the U.S. can leverage this visa to send assemblers for on-site service orders. Think of it as temporary technical support. These assemblers can perform tasks like installation, maintenance, and training, but the assembly work must be done by U.S. personnel. B-1 in place of H-1B visa (temporary project visa): Some professionals might be eligible for a B-1 visa for temporary projects in specific scenarios. This option can be viable when an H-1B visa, typically used for specialty occupations, might be challenging to obtain. B-1 instead of H-3 visa (short-term training): Under certain conditions, the B-1 category can be used for brief in-house training sessions or further employee education. It allows for skills development without needing a dedicated H-3 visa designed for trainee positions. IMPORTANT! These B1 business visa exceptions have strict requirements. Working with an immigration service provider or lawyer is highly recommended to determine if a particular B-1 visa category fits your situation. https://www.immigrationdirect.com/guides/b1-b2-visitor-visa/ https://www.immigrationdirect.com/guides/b1-b2-visitor-visa/
- decimalenough 1y ago
  From the friendly link, ICE itself says he did not violate his visa conditions in any way: From statements made and queries in law enforcement databases, [redacted] has not violated his visa; however, the Atlanta Field Office Director has mandated [redacted] be presented as a Voluntary Departure. [Redacted] has accepted voluntary departure despite not violating his B1/B2 visa requirements.”
  - SilverElfin 1y ago
    The Guardian offers no evidence for this. Just a vague claim of some doc leaked from someone. But even that text doesn’t seem credible. Why would it say “not violating his B1/B2 visa requirements”? Which is it? B1 is a business visa. B2 is for tourism. It doesn’t make sense to claim they aren’t violating the requirements of these two very different visas.
    - deleted 1y ago
      [deleted]
    - klausa 1y ago
      They're not very different visas; they're very often (always?) issued as B1/B2 visa.
      - SilverElfin 1y ago
        Why would someone sent here by their company for work reasons have both?
        klausa 1y ago
        They don't have "both", it's literally (usually) issued as single visa sticker whenever you apply for either. You seem to try to make a bigger distinction between B1 and B2 than the US government does.
        SilverElfin 1y ago
SilverElfin 1y ago
A valid visa possibly but not one valid for the type of work they are doing, which would have required an H1B. The article doesn’t seem to address this head on.
- AnotherGoodName 1y ago
  Did you read the leaked memo specifically ‘he has not violated his visa’ part? Its right there in the link the parent gave. As in they had a visa and ice acknowledged no violation of the terms of that visa in very plain english.
  - SilverElfin 1y ago
    I can’t really evaluate or trust that part - it’s a redacted quote from some unspecified doc from an unspecified source. My point is that building factories generally requires a different visa because ESTA and also B1 have many restrictions. The fact that it says B1/B2 in there undermines its credibility - one is a travel visa not a work one, and it doesn’t make sense to mention them interchangeably.
    - klausa 1y ago
      My B1/B2 visa literally says B1/B2 on it. I have stamps from the US border that literally say B1/B2 on them. If anything is undermining anyone's credibility here, it is not the article doing that.
    - bialpio 1y ago
      "In practice, the two visa categories are usually combined and issued as a "B-1/B-2 visa" valid for a temporary visit for either business or pleasure, or a combination of the two." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_visa https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_visa There's also a picture of such a visa.

In at least one case, a worker had a valid visa: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/hyundai-factory-ice-raid-legal-visa https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/hyundai-fact...

themaninthedark 1y ago

It looks to me like they may have been in breach of their visa depending on the work they were doing: A B-1 / B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States temporarily for business (B-1), tourism (B-2), or a mix of both (B1/B2). https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/b-1-b-2-visitor-visa-explained/ https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/b-1-b-2-visi... B1 Visa Subcategories and Special Cases While the B-1 visa generally restricts employment and formal education, there are some exceptions under specific circumstances. These exceptions aren’t separate visa categories but annotations considered by the U.S. consular officers during the visitor visa application process. Here’s a closer look at these special B-1 subcategories: B-1 after-sales service visa: Companies selling equipment to the U.S. can leverage this visa to send assemblers for on-site service orders. Think of it as temporary technical support. These assemblers can perform tasks like installation, maintenance, and training, but the assembly work must be done by U.S. personnel. B-1 in place of H-1B visa (temporary project visa): Some professionals might be eligible for a B-1 visa for temporary projects in specific scenarios. This option can be viable when an H-1B visa, typically used for specialty occupations, might be challenging to obtain. B-1 instead of H-3 visa (short-term training): Under certain conditions, the B-1 category can be used for brief in-house training sessions or further employee education. It allows for skills development without needing a dedicated H-3 visa designed for trainee positions. IMPORTANT! These B1 business visa exceptions have strict requirements. Working with an immigration service provider or lawyer is highly recommended to determine if a particular B-1 visa category fits your situation. https://www.immigrationdirect.com/guides/b1-b2-visitor-visa/ https://www.immigrationdirect.com/guides/b1-b2-visitor-visa/

decimalenough 1y ago
From the friendly link, ICE itself says he did not violate his visa conditions in any way: From statements made and queries in law enforcement databases, [redacted] has not violated his visa; however, the Atlanta Field Office Director has mandated [redacted] be presented as a Voluntary Departure. [Redacted] has accepted voluntary departure despite not violating his B1/B2 visa requirements.”
- SilverElfin 1y ago
  The Guardian offers no evidence for this. Just a vague claim of some doc leaked from someone. But even that text doesn’t seem credible. Why would it say “not violating his B1/B2 visa requirements”? Which is it? B1 is a business visa. B2 is for tourism. It doesn’t make sense to claim they aren’t violating the requirements of these two very different visas.
  - deleted 1y ago
    [deleted]
  - klausa 1y ago
    They're not very different visas; they're very often (always?) issued as B1/B2 visa.
    - SilverElfin 1y ago
      Why would someone sent here by their company for work reasons have both?
      - klausa 1y ago
        They don't have "both", it's literally (usually) issued as single visa sticker whenever you apply for either. You seem to try to make a bigger distinction between B1 and B2 than the US government does.
        SilverElfin 1y ago

SilverElfin 1y ago

A valid visa possibly but not one valid for the type of work they are doing, which would have required an H1B. The article doesn’t seem to address this head on.

AnotherGoodName 1y ago
Did you read the leaked memo specifically ‘he has not violated his visa’ part? Its right there in the link the parent gave. As in they had a visa and ice acknowledged no violation of the terms of that visa in very plain english.
- SilverElfin 1y ago
  I can’t really evaluate or trust that part - it’s a redacted quote from some unspecified doc from an unspecified source. My point is that building factories generally requires a different visa because ESTA and also B1 have many restrictions. The fact that it says B1/B2 in there undermines its credibility - one is a travel visa not a work one, and it doesn’t make sense to mention them interchangeably.
  - klausa 1y ago
    My B1/B2 visa literally says B1/B2 on it. I have stamps from the US border that literally say B1/B2 on them. If anything is undermining anyone's credibility here, it is not the article doing that.
  - bialpio 1y ago
    "In practice, the two visa categories are usually combined and issued as a "B-1/B-2 visa" valid for a temporary visit for either business or pleasure, or a combination of the two." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_visa https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_visa There's also a picture of such a visa.