The Department of Homeland Security has provided additional details regarding the arrests that occurred at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday night, explicitly stating that the incident was not connected to the Trump administration's deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist with airport security during the partial government shutdown.
Timing of Arrests Clarified
In an email response to circulating online videos, a DHS spokesperson emphasized that the arrests took place before ICE officers were even deployed to support Transportation Security Administration efforts aimed at alleviating long security lines affecting travelers nationwide. The footage depicted plainclothes agents restraining a handcuffed woman who was screaming, while a young girl cried nearby, with San Francisco Police Department officers positioned between the detainees and onlookers.
Details of the Arrest
According to the DHS statement, on March 22, 2026, ICE officers arrested Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez at SFO. The family had an outstanding final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in 2019. During the escort to the international terminal for processing, Lopez-Jimenez attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers. DHS indicated that ICE is working expediently to repatriate the family unit to their home country of Guatemala.
Local and State Reactions
The circumstances leading to the arrests remained unclear initially. State Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat, commented at a press conference on Monday that he understood federal agents had brought a woman and her child to the airport to place them on a deportation flight. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described the airport arrest as "upsetting" but stressed it was likely an isolated incident, with no broader federal immigration enforcement expected at SFO. He reiterated the city's policy that local law enforcement does not engage in federal civil immigration enforcement.
Airport Security Context
San Francisco International Airport is not among the airports where the Trump administration has deployed ICE agents to aid TSA during the shutdown, which has caused significant security line disruptions amid congressional funding disputes for DHS. Notably, SFO utilizes private contractors instead of TSA employees to staff its security checkpoints, distinguishing it from many other airports.
Political Implications
While the SFO incident appears unrelated to ICE's assistance with TSA, former President Trump commented on Monday, describing airports as "very fertile territory" for ICE officers to detain individuals. Over the weekend, he posted on TruthSocial about moving ICE agents to airports to enhance security and facilitate the immediate arrest of undocumented immigrants entering the country.
