‘It Wasn’t Right’: Woman Arrested by ICE at SFO Is a San Francisco Photographer, Barista

Key Points:

• Iryna Gorb, a Ukrainian woman who has lived and worked in San Francisco for over a decade, was detained by ICE agents at San Francisco International Airport after arriving from Portland.
• Videos posted by a Richmond City Councilmember showed ICE agents forcibly arresting Gorb in the airport, with witnesses reporting aggressive handling and a lack of identification from the agents.
• Gorb’s friend said she was unaware of the reason for her detention and had not received any visa-related paperwork; DHS stated she overstayed a visa that expired in 2011 and is now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• Immigration advocates note a recent increase in ICE detentions at airports outside of Customs and Border Protection areas, suggesting closer cooperation between TSA and ICE.
• San Francisco International Airport officials stated they are not involved in or notified about ICE operations, while legal experts warn non-citizens to be cautious when traveling through airports without legal advice.