World Immigration News

Family of late Vietnamese graduate demands gov’t apology over fatal immigration raid

Release Date: 2025-12-30
Media: The Korea Times
Summary: In South Korea, human rights activists are urging the government to revise restrictive work visa rules and end aggressive immigration enforcement following the death of Tu Anh, a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman, during an immigration raid. Two months after her death, her father has continued a public protest in Seoul, demanding an official apology and an end to what advocates call “human-hunting” crackdowns on migrant workers.

Tu Anh died after falling from a third-floor factory building in Daegu while attempting to avoid immigration officers conducting a raid targeting undocumented workers. She was staying in Korea on a D-10 job-seeking visa, which permits internships but not factory work. Activists say she took the job to save money for graduate school after graduating from Keimyung University earlier this year.

While the Justice Ministry insists officers followed legal procedures and ended the operation before the fatal fall, advocacy groups dispute this, citing witness testimony and security footage. They argue that the raid created fear and reflects deeper flaws in Korea’s immigration system, which actively recruits international students but severely restricts their employment options after graduation, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

In response to public outrage, a progressive opposition lawmaker has introduced a bill to revise the Immigration Control Act, shifting from a “forced deportation first” approach to one prioritizing voluntary departure orders. The proposal would also limit forced deportations of minors, people with disabilities, those needing medical care, pregnant women, and crime victims, aligning Korea more closely with EU standards.

Activists say Tu Anh’s death is not an isolated incident, noting that at least 33 migrant workers have died during immigration raids since 2003, and are calling for a full investigation, accountability, and fundamental reform of Korea’s immigration enforcement practices.
Tags: Korea

News Articles including "Korea"

Released on

Article Title