Outrage Erupts Over Viral Video of ICE Officers Detaining Mother at SFO

Tue Mar 24 2026 00:52:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A distressing video shows federal officers detaining a crying mother at San Francisco International Airport, prompting criticism from local leaders despite it being unrelated to Trump’s recent ICE deployments to airports during a government shutdown.

The viral video depicting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detaining a mother and her child at San Francisco International Airport has sparked widespread outrage. Local officials condemned the actions despite the incident occurring before the recent deployment of ICE officers intended to bolster security amid a government shutdown. Critics, including state lawmakers and mayoral candidates, expressed concern about the climate of fear created by such detentions. Airport officials emphasized that they believe this incident was isolated and not part of a wider immigration enforcement initiative.

Video footage of federal officers detaining a crying woman at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has incited outrage among local officials and the public. The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, involved ICE officers arresting Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez due to an outstanding removal order to Guatemala from 2019.

Disturbing video shared online shows Lopez-Jimenez in distress as she is restrained by officers while her child witnesses the event. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest but stressed that it occurred just prior to any recent ICE deployments linked to staffing shortages at airports amid a government shutdown.

Local leaders, including Democratic state senator Scott Wiener, condemned the enforcement actions. “We don’t want ICE here and when ICE descends on our communities, it only creates fear,” Wiener stated at a press conference held outside SFO.

The footage has raised alarms about President Trump’s decision to deploy ICE officers to various airports, a move sparked by staff shortages among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. Many TSA agents have been missing work due to lack of payment, prompting a call for reinforcements from ICE.

San Francisco airport officials noted that SFO utilizes private contractors for passenger screening, which insulates it from direct implications of the ongoing congressional impasse. Airport spokesperson Doug Yakel reassured that the airport does not expect widespread enforcement actions.

Despite this assurance, the video has fueled fears and criticism about the presence of ICE officers in public spaces, with some noting that individuals involved in the arrest did not display identification, further escalating tensions at the scene.

As the situation unfolds, the mayor of San Francisco has called the incident “upsetting” but believes it is an isolated occurrence, separate from any broader immigration enforcement trends.