*

Immigration lawyer says workers at the site appeared to be

following visa rules

*

Lawyer representing 13 workers from South Korea, Mexico,

Colombia

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South Korean workers had status that allowed work under

specific

circumstances

By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. immigration

lawyer representing more than a dozen workers arrested at a

Hyundai facility in Georgia last week said on

Wednesday that many of the nearly 500 picked up appeared to be

working legally, contradicting allegations by authorities.

The attorney, Atlanta-based Charles Kuck, said his clients

included seven South Koreans who entered via the ESTA program,

for countries with visa-free travel to the U.S., or with B-1

visas for temporary business travel.

He said they were legally allowed to engage in specific work

that was outlined in letters attached to their applications,

including installing and calibrating battery equipment.

U.S. immigration authorities arrested 475 people at a Hyundai

car battery plant near Savannah, Georgia, a large-scale

operation that included the arrest of some 300 South Korean

nationals.

The action, part of President Donald Trump's sweeping

immigration crackdown, came as U.S. and South Korea are trying

to reach a trade agreement. On Wednesday, South Korea's

government said it was trying to fly the workers home.

Foreigners entering the U.S. through ESTA or with a B-1 visa

generally cannot work, but can perform limited work activities

under limited circumstances.

State Department guidance says that the temporary business

visitors can be used to "install, service, or repair commercial

or industrial equipment or machinery purchased from a company

outside the United States or to train U.S. workers to perform

such services."

Kuck said letters included with visa applications that he

reviewed spelled out the scope of the work and appeared to meet

requirements.

"It was more detailed than some of the letters that I've

written for clients in similar situations," he said. "The vast

majority of folks, including the ones I represent, should never

have been detained."

Reuters was unable to independently verify the content of

the applications. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did

not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kuck also said he was representing two Mexicans with valid

work permits through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

(DACA) program and a Colombian asylum seeker with a valid work

permit.

"They just arrested everyone who wasn't a citizen or a

resident and figured they would sort it out later," he said.