300 South Koreans Detained in Georgia Initiate Claims for Damages Against US Government

[Anchor]

Korean workers who were arrested at a battery plant construction site in Georgia, U.S., a year ago have initiated claims for damages against the Trump administration. They argue that the U.S. immigration authorities' arrest and detention were illegal and caused significant economic and mental suffering.

Reporter Jeon Hyeong-u has the details.

[Reporter]

On September 4 of last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a sudden raid at the joint Hyundai Motor-LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in Georgia.

A total of 475 workers were arrested and detained, more than 300 of whom were South Korean.

Controversy over human rights violations arose as footage was released showing armed immigration agents arresting Korean workers in handcuffs and leg irons.

[Colleagues who visited detained Korean workers (September of last year): They said they get served meals three times a day consisting of just a piece of bread, two boiled eggs, and some potato chips. They wear tan prison uniforms, and it is just a prison, just a prison.]

CNN reported that over 300 South Korean workers who were detained at the time have taken legal action against the Donald Trump administration.

A Korean-American attorney in Georgia representing them stated that they have begun filing administrative claims, which is a preliminary step before filing a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government.

They plan to complete filing administrative claims against nine federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice, by the end of this year.

According to reports, the claims state that the South Korean workers suffered property confiscation, lost wages, and psychological distress due to unlawful imprisonment, and are demanding compensation for damages from the U.S. government.

In response to these claims, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated, "We executed search warrants at the time as part of an investigation into illegal employment practices and serious criminal allegations," while U.S. Customs and Border Protection referred to materials stating, "They were found to be working illegally in violation of their status conditions."

(Video Editing: Kim Jong-mi)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.