Korean workers file claims against U.S. government over Georgia detention

Approximately 300 South Korean workers are initiating administrative claims against the United States government for damages following their detention at a battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia, last year. The site is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution.

Represented by a Korean-American attorney in Georgia, the workers are seeking compensation for alleged illegal detention, procedural abuse, and emotional distress. The legal process involves filing claims with nine federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the FBI, before potentially proceeding to federal court.

Claimants allege they were detained without adequate explanation or translation services, were forced to sign documents they could not understand, and were subjected to humiliating conditions while being restrained with handcuffs and shackles. One claimant cited loss of wages and lasting psychological trauma.

In response, the DHS stated that ICE was executing a judicial search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal employment and other federal crimes. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintained that the individuals detained were found to be working in violation of their visa or stay status.