Over 300 S. Korean workers challenging Trump gov't over last year's immigration raid in Georgia: CNN

More than 300 South Korean employees detained in a U.S. immigration raid at a battery plant in Georgia last year are filing legal claims against the American government, marking the first major legal challenge of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, according to CNN. These administrative petitions are being submitted to nine U.S. agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, the Labor Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the news outlet reported, based on a statement from the workers' lawyer.

The filing of these claims is a prerequisite before a federal lawsuit can be initiated. Authorities conducted the immigration raid at an electric vehicle battery plant construction site for a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution in September of the previous year, resulting in the arrest of 475 individuals, the overwhelming majority of whom were South Koreans.

The authorities portrayed the raid as the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations, claiming that the workers were unlawfully present in the United States, some having crossed the border illegally and others under a visa waiver program that prohibits work. A South Korean worker alleged that he was wrongfully detained and subjected to degrading living conditions for seven days during the raid, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, humiliation, and lasting psychological trauma, resulting in claims for damages related to confiscated belongings, lost income, and psychological harm.

Each of the 300 workers had identical claims, according to the lawyer representing them. The goal of filing these claims is to compel the U.S. government to acknowledge a significant, unjust mistake, admit it, and issue an apology, the outlet stated, citing the lawyer. The immigration raid last year sparked debates about the U.S.'s reliability as a dependable investment destination, leading to enhanced cooperation between Seoul and Washington in addressing visa-related concerns for Korean skilled workers.