About 300 Korean workers detained during a U.S. immigration raid in Georgia last year have begun filing administrative damage claims against the federal government, the required step before they can bring lawsuits in federal court. Korean reports citing CNN said the claims target nine federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
The workers were arrested in September 2025 at the construction site of the Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution battery facility in Ellabell, Georgia. Their claims allege wrongful arrest and detention, poor conditions during seven days in custody and pressure to sign documents without adequate interpretation. Lawyers representing the workers aim to submit roughly 300 claims by the end of this year, according to the reporting.
Claims come before any federal lawsuit
The administrative process matters because a federal lawsuit cannot begin immediately. The agencies first receive the claims and have an opportunity to respond. If a claim is rejected, or if the government does not respond within six months, the worker can then seek relief in federal court. The current filings therefore mark the beginning of the legal process rather than a court judgment on the allegations.
The case also extends the consequences of a raid that became a major issue for Korean workers and companies operating in the United States. The construction site involved two major Korean industrial groups, and the detention of hundreds of Korean nationals drew attention to the immigration status and working arrangements of personnel sent to large U.S. investment projects.
Federal agenciesโ responses and the pace of the remaining filings will determine when the dispute can move into court. Any later lawsuits would have to establish the facts and legal basis for damages individually or through coordinated proceedings. The significant change now is that the workers have moved from public complaints about the raid to a formal claims process that can lead to federal litigation.