Full Breakdown
South Korean Workers File Administrative Claims Over 2025 Georgia Immigration Raid
By Drooid · · How we work
The Raid and Emerging Legal Challenge
On September 4 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a sudden raid on the Hyundai Motor Group–LG Energy Solution battery-plant construction site in Ellabell, Bryan County, Georgia. A total of 475 workers were arrested; more than 300 of those detained were South Korean nationals. Video released after the operation showed workers shackled at the wrists, waist and ankles, prompting outrage in South Korea and the United States.
On September 15, CNN reported that the Korean workers have begun filing administrative claims with nine federal agencies—a mandatory step before a federal lawsuit can be pursued. The claims allege unlawful detention, confiscation of personal belongings, loss of wages and lasting psychological trauma, and seek damages from the U.S. government.
Background & Context
The plant is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, intended to produce electric-vehicle batteries for the U.S. market. Federal officials framed the action as a response to alleged violations of immigration law, including workers present without proper visas or working under a visa-waiver program that prohibits employment.
Data & Statistics
- 475 workers arrested at the site.
- >300 South Korean nationals among those detained.
- Administrative claims filed with nine federal agencies: Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and others.
- Claims allege: unlawful detention, confiscated phones, shackling, “inhumane” living conditions, and emotional distress.
Official Statements & Responses
The agency emphasized that the search warrant was court-issued and that the investigation aims to hold violators accountable.
Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution have not provided comment at the time of reporting.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise count of Korean workers: some describe “more than 300,” others cite “about 300.” No source disclosed the total monetary amount the claimants seek in damages, leaving the scope of potential compensation unclear.
What’s Next
The Korean-American attorney representing the workers says the administrative claims will be submitted to the nine agencies by the end of this year. Completion of the claims process would allow the group to file a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking redress for the alleged violations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This investigation is focused on ensuring accountability for those who violate the law and upholding the rule of law,” — the spokesperson
- “We executed search warrants as part of an investigation into unlawful employment practices and serious criminal allegations at the time,” — U.S. Department