by Mass Detentions of Korean Engineers in the US
The American Immigration Service (ICE) is facing a lawsuit from hundreds of Korean engineers detained during a controversial raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia in September.
Key Facts of the Situation
Incident Details
On September 4, ICE agents stormed the plant and arrested 475 individuals, whom they called “illegal immigrants.” It was later revealed that 317 of them were Korean workers invited by Hyundai to assist with launching new production.
While some of these employees were indeed working illegally on tourist visas, a significant number held legal work permits and were officially employed at the plant.
Detention Conditions and Allegations
Nearly 200 detained workers are preparing a collective lawsuit against ICE, citing racial discrimination, excessive use of force, and human rights violations.
The detainees were held in facilities housing 60-80 people each, forced to sleep on crumpled mattresses and drink water with an unpleasant odor. Reports also indicate systematic mockery by guards and racial remarks directed at the prisoners.
Victim Testimonies
“Agents confiscated our phones and shackled us with handcuffs on our wrists, ankles, and chests,” one worker recounted.
“Being in a space controlled by armed people, unable to see what was happening in front or behind, without any explanations – it was terrifying. I felt completely helpless. We were treated like dangerous fugitives, not engineers.”
Consequences and Reaction
The workers are demanding compensation for damages. Both Hyundai and LG Energy Solution state that the lawsuit is being filed on an individual basis, and the companies are not involved in it.
The detained workers were released after a week in custody and quickly deported to South Korea. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an investigation into the case to determine whether the treatment of its citizens crossed the line into human rights violations.
This case has become one of the largest incidents involving the detention of foreign specialists in recent years. It has raised serious questions about immigration control procedures and the protection of workers’ rights from other countries. The situation also demonstrates the difficulties faced by international corporations when moving qualified personnel between countries, particularly in the context of tightening immigration restrictions.
