Lawmakers respond after reported ICE agents detain woman at SFO in front of daughter

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ICE agents in plain clothes reportedly detained a woman at SFO on Sunday night, which is setting off controversy.

San Francisco police and local lawmakers are sounding off on the issue.

The news of that detainment came just a day before the president said he would send ICE agents to national airports to ease long TSA lines. The Bay Area, as of now, is not included in those airports, so this incident appears to be unrelated.

The video is being circulated on social media and officials are now responding to it.

The video shows what appears to be officers arresting a woman. A crowd of people surrounded the woman being arrested and asked the officers to show their badge numbers.

The arrest happened in front of the woman’s daughter, who could be heard crying.

MORE: ICE agents to deploy to 14 airports nationwide amid TSA callout; list does not include Bay Area

The officers did not respond to those requests and the woman is seen later being taken through the airport by officers in a wheelchair.

In a statement, a spokesperson for SFO said that federal officers were transporting two people on an outbound flight when the incident on video happened.

SFO says it believes that it was an isolated incident and that it has no reason to suspect that broader enforcement is happening at SFO.

“The airport’s role is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the facility for all passengers and staff. We were not involved in or notified in advance of this incident. Airport operations continued without disruption, and there was no impact to flights or passenger processing,” the statement said in part.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie posted a statement on X, saying:

“Like many San Franciscans, I found the incident at SFO last night upsetting. I have spoken to leaders at SFO and SFPD, and we believe this is an isolated incident. We have no reason to believe there is broader federal immigration enforcement at SFO. SFPD officers remained at the scene to maintain public safety and were not involved in the incident. Under our city’s longstanding policies, local law enforcement does not participate in federal civil immigration enforcement. Those policies keep us safe and will not change as long as I’m mayor.”

State Senator Scott Wiener is set to hold a press conference in response to the incident.