The Department of Homeland Security provided more clarity on the arrests made at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Sunday night, indicating that the incident was not tied to the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE officers to help manage airport security during the partial government shutdown.
“This arrest occurred BEFORE ICE officers were even deployed to bolster TSA efforts to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines across the country,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in an email after videos of the arrests began circulating online.
The footage showed plainclothes agents holding down a screaming and handcuffed woman as a young girl cried nearby. San Francisco Police Department officers were seen standing between the detainees and witnesses.
DHS claimed one of the arrested individuals tried to run away from agents.
“On March 22, 2026, ICE officers arrested Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez at the San Francisco International Airport. The family has an outstanding final order of removal from an immigration judge since 2019,” the spokesperson said. “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.”
