"Handcuffed and Shackled, Water Smelled Like Sewage": BBC Interviews Korean Workers

A Korean worker who had been detained in Georgia by the U.S. immigration authorities is meeting with family in the parking lot after returning through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on September 12, 2025. [Joint Coverage] Yonhap News Agency

Korean workers who were detained after being arrested by U.S. immigration authorities have reported harrowing experiences during their arrest and detention.

The BBC reported on September 16 (local time) interviews with Korean workers who recently returned home. A man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, said that when he first saw armored vehicles and armed immigration officers outside his office window, he thought it had nothing to do with him. However, shortly afterward, armed officers stormed in, dragged him outside, shackled his waist and ankles with chains, and put him on a bus headed for a detention center. Mr. A told the BBC, "My mind went blank and I felt nauseous. I simply could not understand why I was being treated this way."

Mr. B was arrested by armed officers while stepping outside for some fresh air. He described the scene: "Helicopters and drones were hovering overhead, and agents carrying guns swarmed in with armored vehicles. Some officers pointed red laser sights from their gun barrels, and many people were trembling in fear."

Even those who presented visa documents were arrested. Mr. C said, "I thought everything would be resolved quickly, but instead, I was immediately handcuffed and shackled." Mr. A, who was detained, was held in a cold room with 60 to 70 others. For the first two days, they were not given any blankets and had to get through the nights with just a towel while wearing short sleeves. Korean workers said, "The water smelled like sewage, so we couldn't drink it and tried to drink as little as possible," "There weren't enough beds, so some people slept with their heads on desks," and "It was so cold that some people warmed bread and held it to their chests to get through the night."

Most of the approximately 300 Koreans arrested by U.S. immigration authorities are detained at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Folkston, Georgia. Water is leaking from the sink and toilet. This photo was taken during an audit conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in November 2021. September 6, 2025, Yonhap News Agency

After returning home and reuniting with his family, Mr. A continues to struggle with emptiness and trauma. He said, "I hugged my family at the airport, but I felt nothing. It was only after my mother prepared dinner at home that I broke down in tears," adding, "Whenever I go outside and smell something similar to the scent of the detention center, I get short of breath and start shaking, so I can't stay out for long." Mr. B said, "I smiled in the arrivals hall, but honestly, I felt like I was about to cry," and added, "I have dedicated 30 years of my life to this work. I can't quit. I have to go back, if only for my family."

On September 4, U.S. immigration authorities conducted a large-scale surprise raid at the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution battery joint venture construction site in Ellabell, Georgia. A total of 475 people were arrested, including 317 Koreans-employees of LG Energy Solution and its partner companies. Authorities explained that these individuals had either entered the United States illegally or were working in violation of their visa status. Of those detained, 330 people (including 316 Koreans) arrived at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of September 12.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.