1/ A repatriated Korean worker from the Hyundai-LG battery factory secretly wrote a detention diary about their 7-day experience in ICE custody in Georgia. The worker says ICE officers mocked them with words like as "North Korea" and "Rocket Man" despite holding a business visa.
https://twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1966395689979572606
2/ The worker held a B1 visa for a 2-month work meetings and training trip. They were body-searched while wearing hard hat and safety boots at 10am on 4 September. ICE gave arrest warrant forms at 1:20pm with no explanation and no Miranda rights were read. 
3/ "The workers thought that completing the forms would lead to release," the worker wrote, which was shared with Yonhap News. Red wristbands were placed on workers after they submitted forms. They secretly messaged his family saying "contact might be cut off".
4/ Workers were handcuffed with cable ties, and some were chained at the waist, legs, and wrists. Transport vehicles had toilets inside with a strong urine odour, and there was no air conditioning provided during the journey to the detention facility.
https://x.com/koryodynasty/status/1964318947546964309
5/ Workers were initially housed in a 72-person room with bunks, 4 shared toilets and 2 urinals. There were no clocks or outside view. Mattresses had mould on them. The provided water smelled bad. No basic supplies were initially provided to the detainees. koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs…
6/ It was so cold that some detainees heated towels in the microwave to warm themselves. The worker secretly obtained a pen and paper on day 4 to begin writing his detention diary. The formal intake process was only completed on day 4. yna.co.kr/view/AKR202509…
7/ During their 6 September ICE interview, officers asked if they were from "South Korea". When they confirmed, "the officers smirked and mentioned North Korea and Rocket Man". The worker wrote being angry but restrained themselves.
8/ When they asked why they were arrested despite legal B1 entry, the ICE officer replied: "I don't know either, but the people above think it's illegal." Some ICE officers admitted to other detainees that ICE had made mistakes, according to the diary.
9/ On 7 September, 4 officials from the Korean Consulate General and Foreign Ministry met the detainees. The consulate reportedly told workers: "Getting home first is the most important thing. Sign whatever they ask you to sign unconditionally."
10/ The Korean officials warned that disputes could mean detention for anything from 4 months to several years. They informed detainees that signing would mean forced removal, visa cancellation, and a charter flight home. More ministry officials visited on 8 September.
11/ The worker wrote: "I was angry that they seemed unable to understand why B-1 visa entry was considered illegal" and was frustrated at their focus on "sending us out." Workers were told to sign "voluntary departure" documents filled with language about being "illegal".
12/ Release came on 11 September at 1am when buses departed for Atlanta airport, leaving what Yonhap described as a "hell-like detention facility." yna.co.kr/view/AKR202509…
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