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Korea Investigates Human Rights Violations In ICE Raid As Trump Calls For More Investments

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Seoul said they will investigate if there were any “human rights violations or inconveniences to our people” 

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by Brad Anderson

19 hours ago

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  • South Korea flew home 316 workers detained for a week after Georgia immigration raid.
  • Detainees reported shackling and pressure to sign unclear documents without explanation.
  • Officials cited issues with medication access and limited phone calls during detention.

The fallout from the US immigration raid on Hyundai and LG’s joint venture plant in Georgia earlier this month continues. Shortly after South Korea flew home 316 skilled workers who were detained for a week from the plant, the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it’s reviewing the case to determine whether the treatment of its citizens crossed the line into human rights violations.

More: Trump Wanted Hyundai’s Korean Workers To Train Americans, Seoul Said Absolutely Not

Once the workers landed back in South Korea, many claimed they were treated as if they were criminals by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Several said they were pressured into signing documents without receiving a clear explanation of their contents.

Claims of Mistreatment

According to the Korea Times, those detained were shackled and handcuffed before being transferred to a detention center in Folkstown, Georgia, before officials from South Korea and the US negotiated for their release. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated, “We will continue to look closely into whether there were any human rights violations or inconveniences to our people. We are also coordinating closely with local companies to assess the situation.”

Another government official added that, while consular meetings at the detention center did not uncover outright violations, there were notable problems related to access to medication and the ability to make phone calls.

“During consular meetings with detained individuals on-site, we were not able to gather full details due to time constraints,” the Korean official explained. “Our top priority in negotiations with U.S. officials was to secure their early release and bring our citizens back home as quickly as possible. The government may raise concerns through diplomatic channels, but at this stage, we believe it is important for the companies to assess the situation, and the government will step in if necessary.”

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Officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have maintained that the arrests and the raid were carried out in full compliance with the law.

Trump’s Response

In the days after the raid, it emerged that US President Donald Trump had proposed that the Korean workers stay in the United States temporarily, so they could help train local staff before returning home. As the controversy grew, Trump took to social media to clarify his stance and to reassure foreign companies that the incident should not discourage them from investing in the US.

“When Foreign Companies who are building extremely complex products, machines, and various other ‘things,’ come into the United States with massive Investments, I want them to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products, as they phase out of our Country, and back into their land,” he wrote. “I don’t want to frighten off or disincentivize Investment into America by outside Countries or Companies.”

Questions Over Employment Status

ICE stated that the individuals detained were either working in the country without authorization or had remained after their visas expired. Hyundai pointed out later that none of them were its direct employees, while LG Energy Solution, which runs the plant alongside Hyundai, said a number of those held did have visas or had entered under the visa waiver program.

Photo Hyundai Motor Group