Disturbing video showing federal agents detaining a distressed woman at San Francisco International Airport has sparked fierce criticism from California Democratic officials on Monday, though the incident was not connected to President Donald Trump’s recent decision to send immigration personnel to understaffed airports amid the partial government shutdown.
Social media footage captured a woman weeping and screaming as officers restrained her and worked to place handcuffs on her while her child witnessed the scene. According to the Department of Homeland Security, authorities apprehended Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez at the airport on Sunday due to an unresolved final deportation order to Guatemala dating back to 2019.
San Francisco Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, who is running for Congress, organized a press conference Monday outside the airport to criticize the federal authorities’ actions. Multiple Democratic candidates seeking the California governor’s office also issued sharp rebukes of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the video’s circulation.
“We don’t want ICE here and when ICE descends on our communities, it only creates fear,” Wiener said.
The video sparked widespread concern on social media platforms regarding Trump’s decision to station ICE personnel at airports as numerous Transportation Security Administration workers have resigned or called in sick after working weeks without compensation. ICE agents were observed at multiple airports Monday following Trump’s announcement that he would deploy them unless Democrats approve funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. Democratic lawmakers say they’re refusing to compromise until the administration implements changes following a Minnesota enforcement operation that resulted in two protesters being fatally shot.
Airport officials confirmed that San Francisco International Airport is not among the facilities where ICE officers are anticipated to be stationed. This is because the airport employs private security contractors for passenger screening, making it unaffected by the ongoing congressional standoff.
“We believe this is an isolated incident and have no reason to suspect broader enforcement action at SFO,” airport spokesman Doug Yakel said in a statement.
During transport to the international terminal for processing, Lopez-Jimenez tried to escape and fought against law enforcement personnel, according to an unnamed DHS representative in an email statement. DHS regularly maintains offices or processing centers at international airport terminals. ICE intends to deport the family to Guatemala, the statement indicated.
“This arrest occurred BEFORE ICE officers were even deployed to bolster TSA efforts to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines across the country,” the statement said.
In the detention footage, the officers disregarded multiple demands from witnesses to display their identification credentials. The agents wore civilian clothing, and at one moment an officer instructed the gathering to move back. Additional videos reveal a substantial crowd of observers, many recording the incident. One clip appears to show the woman ultimately being wheeled away in a wheelchair with the child following behind.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and an airport representative stated they view this as an isolated occurrence rather than evidence of a wider immigration enforcement campaign. Lurie, a Democrat, described the incident as “upsetting.”
