The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) has urged the Immigration Bureau to refrain from arbitrary crackdowns on undocumented migrants, specifically mentioning a recent incident at a Thai restaurant in Pocheon where 21 undocumented Thai nationals were apprehended during a restaurant opening. The NHRC pointed out that their opinion, issued on January 12, stated that authorities should avoid 'rabbit hunting'-style operations, which typically involve indiscriminate capturing. However, critics argue that the NHRC has regressed in its recommendations by not addressing legal procedural violations that occurred during this enforcement action.

The event in question involved Immigration Bureau agents reportedly apprehending undocumented individuals without properly notifying them of their rights, such as providing Miranda warnings. The restaurant owner claims that the enforcement agents did not present proper identification or documentation to justify their actions, further alleging that a legal non-immigrant was assaulted during the crackdown. Despite these accusations, the Immigration Bureau insisted that they had followed required protocols and communicated with the restaurant owner about their actions being necessary for identifying illegal residents.

As the NHRC investigates the claims, there remains a significant divide between the stakeholders regarding the appropriateness of the actions taken during the crackdown. While the NHRC has pointed out troubling aspects about the policing method, both the immigration officials and the restaurant staff have conflicting accounts of the events. The outcome of these allegations may have broader implications for the treatment of undocumented migrants in South Korea and the protocols followed by immigration enforcement agencies in ensuring their rights are protected during such operations.