- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hundreds of South Korean workers returned home on Friday after a harrowing week in US immigration detention, recounting shocking details of their experience. A total of 316 South Korean nationals arrived at Incheon International Airport, waving, bowing, and giving thumbs-up gestures to the press and crowd as bystanders applauded their safe return. Emotional reunions unfolded as families embraced tearfully in the airport parking lot.
“I’m back home! Free at last!” one worker shouted, raising his arms in celebration. Many immediately turned on their phones to inform loved ones of their safety, while others thanked the crowd for their support.
Sudden Detention
The workers, employed under valid B-1 temporary visitor visas, were part of a raid on September 4 at a Hyundai facility in Georgia. More than 475 people were detained during the US immigration crackdown, including 307 men and 10 women from South Korea. Officials cited investigations into alleged unlawful employment practices.
One South Korean worker, identified only as “A,” described being handcuffed with cable ties, searched, and presented with foreign arrest warrant forms without translation or explanation. “We were only made aware of what was going on after meeting the lawyers and consular officials,” he said. “Contact might be cut off,” he secretly messaged his family from his mobile phone during the ordeal.
Harsh Detention Conditions
The detainees spent nine hours waiting before being transferred to a transport van. Some were restrained at the waist, legs, and wrists. Air conditioning was turned off despite extreme heat. At the holding facility, A described being crammed into a 72-person temporary room with bunk beds, four toilets, two urinals, and no ventilation. Privacy was minimal, and detainees had difficulty attending to basic bodily needs.
“It was difficult to relieve oneself in such crowded conditions,” he wrote. Many said their main wishes upon release were simple: a hot meal, Korean food, and a shower.
The ICE raid created uncertainty for both businesses and workers, straining U.S.-South Korea relations. The Korean Air flight also carried 14 employees of South Korean companies from China, Japan, and Indonesia. One of the 317 South Koreans chose to remain in the U.S. rather than accept “voluntary departure.”