When Youngjin glanced out of his office window and spotted armoured vehicles and immigration officers running around carrying firearms, he was stunned, but not worried.
This South Korean man was certain it was nothing to do with him. Youngjin was in the US only for a short period on a short-term permit, he thought to himself.
Then, those weapon-carrying agents burst into his space and ordered him outside. They restrained him, before connecting restraints to his midsection and ankles, and placed him onto a bus headed for a holding centre.
"I was terrified and my thoughts went blank. I felt ill," he shared during a discussion, now returned home.
"I was confused about why I was being handled like this."
Youngjin is among of more than 300 Korean workers who were detained in the American state of Georgia earlier this month, in among of the largest enforcement raids during Donald Trump's administration so far. Youngjin and fellow detainees interviewed for this report didn't want to reveal their full names in order to protect their identity.
'Helicopters and Drones… Officers With Firearms'
American officials at first stated the workers had been in the nation illegally on incorrect documents, but eventually the parties struck a agreement permitting them to depart without force free from any penalties, so they could return to be employed there in the coming years.
The majority of the personnel were in the United States temporarily, assisting to construct an electric car battery plant run by a pair of Korean companies, Hyundai and LG – a segment of a US initiative to encourage international businesses to put money and manufacture more in the states.
The company said that many of its employees who were arrested had various kinds of visas or were under a visa waiver programme. And so they were especially surprised by the raid.
"We just came out for a brief pause and I could see a many individuals, officials with guns. As South Koreans, we just thought they were here to arrest criminals, but then, they suddenly started arresting us," said another detainee, who was also taken that day.
He said they attempted to clarify who they were, but they were frightened: "We saw helicopters and unmanned aircraft, armoured vehicles… people with firearms."
We noticed some agents aiming guns at us, he claimed. "Are you familiar with those laser lasers that emit from those guns? It was so shocking that some people were shivering in terror."
Including those who were able to provide their immigration information said they were arrested. "I thought everything would be resolved but on the contrary, they suddenly restrained us," said Mr Kim detained, who only wanted to give his surname.
The detainee said there was a restraint around his feet and one more around his waist, connected to restraints. "They were so tight, I couldn't touch my face with my arms."
Each of them said they had little understanding why this was happening, or where they were being taken. "I later learned that I was held at the a specific ICE Detention Center," mentioned Chul-yong. Chul-yong had been intending to remain for about a 30 days but was arrested on his sixth day there.
'It Was Freezing... Drinking Water Had an Odor Similar to Sewage
The engineer, a specialist and contract worker for LG, was scheduled to be there for five weeks to train staff to operate some of the specialized high-tech machinery.
This engineer was trembling, still clearly upset, as he recounted his transfer to the holding centre and confined in a cell with dozens of other detainees.
"I had a anxiety episode. I just remained there shaking," he said. The area was freezing, and the recent individuals were not given coverings for the initial days, he added.
"I was wearing short sleeves, so I tucked my arms inside my clothes and wrapped myself in a cloth to try to keep warm at during the evening," he said. "Most difficult part was the liquid. It smelt like sewage. We consumed as little as possible."
The sleeping areas were all taken, another detainee said, by the time he arrived, leaving him and fellow detainees to locate any available spot to sleep, even an unused surface where they could put their head down.
"We tried to rest anywhere, truly. It was really chilly. There were individuals who found wrapped bread, warmed it up in the oven, holding it throughout the evening."
For the initial days, Youngjin had no idea how long he would be detained for. He worried it might be months. It was only after some of the workers were able to meet attorneys and diplomatic officials, that they realise their authorities was cooperating with the American authorities to get them released.
"Even the US side believes it may have gone a somewhat too extreme," the nation's lead trade representative told reporters after returning from the United States. South Korea states it is now reviewing possible civil abuses during the operation by US officers.
Trump recognized the need to have experts from overseas educate up US workers, and as per South Korean officials, American Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has expressed his "deep apologies" over the event.
Still, it has damaged relations between the United States and Korea, usually close partners, particularly since it occurred hard on the aftermath of a trade deal in which Korean firms committed to invest $350bn in the United States.
The worker was confident his work was allowed by his B-1 visa - and argued it made little logic for the authorities to arrest hundreds of individuals without verifying their roles in the factory.
Younjin, who was in the US on a 90-day visa waiver programme, is firm he did no wrong. "I only participated in discussions and gave training presentations," he said, noting this was under the scope of the arrangement. "My trust in the United States has been greatly shaken. I don't think it's a reliable partner for our country."
Even though returned with his family, the engineer is continuing struggling to process what occurred to him. At the time he saw them at the airport after returning to South Korea on that night, he said he greeted and {hug
