Federal Agents Conduct Immigration Screening at San Francisco International Airport
On Sunday night, federal agents carried out immigration screenings within a terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), as confirmed by officials.
Footage obtained by CBS News Bay Area shows a woman being detained by two plainclothes immigration agents, with a girl believed to be her daughter present. The video captures the woman repeatedly requesting the officer’s badge number.
Airport spokesman Doug Yakel stated that the incident occurred while federal agents were escorting two individuals to an outbound flight.
The detained woman has been identified as Angelina Lopez Jimenez, who was arrested alongside Wendy Godinez Jimenez. According to the Department of Homeland Security, both individuals received final removal orders from an immigration judge in 2019.
U.S. Representative Doris Matsui expressed her outrage over the incident, emphasizing her connection to the woman as a member of the Sacramento community. “I am deeply outraged by the video released this weekend of a Sacramento mother being forcibly detained by ICE in front of her young daughter at San Francisco International Airport,” Matsui remarked.
Police Response and Airport Security Maintained
San Francisco police reported responding to the scene around 10 p.m., following a 911 call. Officers determined that federal immigration agents were involved but clarified that the police were not part of the incident. They remained at the airport to ensure security.
In line with city policy, the San Francisco Police Department stated it would not cooperate with federal civil law enforcement concerning immigration matters.
Clarification from Airport Officials
Yakel further noted that the airport was not involved in the immigration operation and had not received prior notification. He assured that normal airport operations, including flights and passenger processing, were not disrupted.
Unusual Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
Experts in immigration law highlighted the unusual choice of location for the deportation. Bill Ong Hin, a law professor and director at the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic at the University of San Francisco, commented on the atypical use of SFO for such incidents. “Typically, deportations are handled through charter flights from states like Texas and Louisiana,” he said.
Ongoing Developments and Official Statements
The Department of Homeland Security announced that one of the arrested individuals attempted to flee and resisted officers. “ICE is working as quickly as possible to return the family to their home country of Guatemala,” the agency stated.
Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed his concerns, describing himself as “shaken” by the events at SFO. He communicated with airport and police department leaders, asserting that he does not anticipate widespread federal enforcement at SFO.
Political Reactions from Lawmakers
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Kevin Mullin called for immediate clarification regarding the conditions surrounding the detained mother and child. They described the incident as yet another example of the harmful effects of current immigration policies. Matsui, in a social media post, also expressed a need for transparency about ICE’s actions in this troubling scenario.
As the community grapples with the implications of this incident, all eyes remain on local and federal authorities for further accountability and insight into immigration enforcement practices.
