300+ Korean Workers Allege Torture-Like Abuse in Georgia ICE Detention

New testimonies have surfaced detailing "systematic torture-like abuse" at a Georgia ICE facility, following the detention of over 300 South Korean workers in a recent raid. Reports include a pregnant woman fearing for her unborn child, handcuff burns, forced medical injections without consent, and staff neglecting workers experiencing seizures and medical collapses. These shocking accounts, initially brought to light by journalist Raphael Rashid, have prompted a formal investigation by the South Korean government into potential human rights violations.

The allegations describe severe conditions and mistreatment during the workers' detention. According to a secretly kept detention diary and other testimonies, detainees were held in cramped, unsanitary cells with moldy mattresses and were shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles. Workers reported being denied access to interpreters, forced to sign documents without explanation, and subjected to verbal abuse, including being mocked with references to "North Korea" and "Rocket Man" by ICE agents.

These testimonies emerged after more than 300 South Korean nationals were detained in a massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on September 4 at a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia. The operation, which also involved workers of other nationalities, was cited by ICE as targeting individuals suspected of visa violations or illegal employment. The incident quickly escalated into a diplomatic crisis, straining relations between the United States and South Korea.

Upon their repatriation to South Korea, many workers recounted harrowing experiences. One engineer described being handcuffed and chained, stating, "I panicked and my mind went blank. I felt sick. I couldn't understand why I was being treated like this." The South Korean government has expressed "strong regret" to Washington and has launched an investigation to determine if human rights violations occurred, with officials indicating they will submit a formal complaint if confirmed.

The raid and subsequent allegations have raised concerns about the future of foreign investment in the U.S., with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung noting that companies "can't help but question whether setting up a plant in the US is worth the potential risks." U.S. officials have expressed regret over the detentions, and discussions are underway to explore new visa categories to prevent similar incidents, as the economic fallout includes a several-month delay in the plant's construction.