ICE raids are intensifying, heightening fear among Korean Americans, especially those without legal status or with prior arrests.
During the week of September 1–7, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies raided a Hyundai–LG Energy Solution joint battery plant in Georgia. Hundreds of Koreans were arrested in handcuffs and shackles, a scene that deeply unsettled many in the community.
Undocumented Korean Americans are now restricting their daily lives. A man in his 50s who has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years said he had not feared deportation before, but after hearing about the Georgia raid and a Koreatown car wash raid, he avoids going out. He said he only visits the market briefly around 10 p.m.
Concerns extend beyond the undocumented. On an immigration forum, a permanent resident who frequently travels to China expressed worry about stricter U.S. border checks. Others advised against leaving the country if even minor criminal records exist. Some have skipped funerals in Korea, fearing a decade-old DUI or traffic violation might block reentry or even lead to loss of permanent residency.
A 45-year-old permanent resident in La Crescenta, surname Kim, has a citizenship interview in two weeks and said a coworker was grilled for more than 30 minutes about old residency records before barely passing. Unable to locate a 10-year-old traffic ticket, Kim said they felt anxious.
The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles is warning residents to be prepared. Jeff Lee, the group’s Secretary-General, noted that many Korean Americans lack English fluency, making encounters with enforcement officers risky. He advised carrying originals or copies (including photos) of a visa, green card, Korean passport, U.S. passport, or Real ID. If a person does not understand a question, he added, it is better not to answer.
Reports also show tougher enforcement tactics since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upheld current practices. On September 9, 2025, around 11 a.m., three officers in a Van Nuys strip mall parking lot pointed guns at a man and a pregnant woman in a car. When she shouted, “If you touch me, I will sue,” officers smashed the car window and dragged the man out. A bystander who recorded the incident told ABC7 News the actions seemed excessively forceful.’
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
