Viral videos showing a Sacramento woman being arrested by ICE agents at San Francisco International Airport Sunday night are drawing widespread outrage and concern.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X that two individuals — Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Lopez — have had final removal orders from an immigration judge since 2019.
Video from the scene shows Lopez-Jimenez in handcuffs, crying and struggling with two plainclothes officers as bystanders demand the agents identify themselves.
“While being escorted to the international terminal for processing, Lopez-Jimenez attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers. ICE is working as quickly as possible to repatriate the family unit to their home country of Guatemala,” a DHS statement said.
Democratic Congresswoman Doris Matsui, who represents the Sacramento area, later confirmed the woman is a local mother, saying she was “deeply angered” by the footage.
“This is our neighbor and a member of our community. This video showcases the cruelty we have come to expect from Trump’s ICE agents, but also the lasting trauma that will be inflicted on those who are forced to witness their disproportionate and deadly recklessness,” Matsui said. “I am demanding answers as to why ICE treated this Sacramentan so violently in front of her daughter.”
Airport officials said federal officers were escorting two individuals onto an outbound flight and emphasized that SFO staff were not involved in the confrontation.
Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, who is running for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat, condemned the arrest during a press conference outside the airport Monday.
“We don’t want ICE here. When ICE descends on our communities, it only creates fear,” Wiener said. “We have to put a stop to ICE’s terror campaign.”
Weiner called on Trump to pass a standalone TSA funding bill, separate from the ICE budget.
“Everyone wants to fund TSA, but Democrats correctly have drawn a line and said we’re not going to give more money to ICE or to the border patrol or to this terror campaign unless there is fundamental reform,” he said.
Wiener has long criticized ICE tactics and previously authored the No Secret Police Act, which sought to ban officers from wearing masks that conceal their identity. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill, but a federal judge later blocked it, ruling it unfairly targeted federal officers.
The incident comes as the Trump administration moves to deploy ICE agents to 14 airports nationwide, citing staffing shortages as TSA workers call out during a partial government shutdown as Republicans and Democrats in Congress clash over DHS funding. Officials at SFO say they do not expect an ICE presence. The airport isn’t affected by the shortage due to their use of private contractors.
Sacramento International Airport also said it does not plan to use ICE agents for support.
“Staffing callouts have remained minimal, and security wait times are staying consistent with what they were prior to the shutdown,” the airport said. “SMF will continue to work with our TSA and airline partners to ensure the airport is a safe and efficient travel experience.”
The video has also raised questions about potential violations of sanctuary laws prohibiting local and state authorities from assisting immigration enforcement operations after San Francisco police officers were seen attempting to control bystanders. Police said they did not assist with immigration enforcement and were present only to maintain public safety.
“Consistent with our City Charter, state law, and SFPD department policy, we do not assist in the enforcement of civil federal immigration laws,” the department said.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie called the incident “upsetting,” but described it as “isolated” and reiterated that SFPD officers were not involved, in line with longstanding city policy.
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