Is ICE at SFO? Here’s What We Know About Videos of Woman Being Forcefully Detained

Key Points:

• Plainclothes immigration officers were filmed forcefully detaining a woman and her young daughter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Sunday night, drawing criticism from Bay Area officials who condemned the agents' aggressive behavior.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the woman and her daughter, who had a final order of removal from 2019, were being escorted for processing when the woman attempted to flee; SFO officials said the incident occurred during transport for an outbound flight.
• Local authorities, including San Francisco Police Department officers, responded to the scene but did not participate in the detention, instead maintaining public safety while federal agents conducted the arrest.
• Officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, indicated this appears to be an isolated incident with no evidence of a broader federal immigration enforcement operation ongoing at SFO.
• The detention coincides with increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence at multiple U.S. airports amid a partial government shutdown affecting TSA staffing, prompting calls from advocates and politicians for transparency and protection of immigrant rights.