Federal Agents Detain Crying Woman at San Francisco Airport

Incident sparks outrage from California Democrats, but officials say it was an isolated event unrelated to broader immigration enforcement.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 3:18am by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A video showing federal officers detaining a crying woman at San Francisco International Airport has drawn condemnation from local Democratic officials, though authorities say the incident was unrelated to the Trump administration's deployment of immigration agents to short-staffed airports during a partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about the presence of federal immigration enforcement at airports, an issue that has become politically charged as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on illegal immigration.

The details

According to the Department of Homeland Security, officers arrested Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez at the airport on Sunday, as the family had an outstanding final order of removal to Guatemala from 2019. During the detention, Lopez-Jimenez attempted to flee and resisted the officers, DHS said.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, March 23, 2026.
  • The video footage was posted on social media and drew outrage from local officials on Monday, March 24, 2026.

The players

Angelina Lopez-Jimenez

A woman who was detained by federal officers at San Francisco International Airport.

Wendy Godinez-Jimenez

A woman who was detained by federal officers at San Francisco International Airport, along with Angelina Lopez-Jimenez.

Scott Wiener

A Democratic state senator from San Francisco and candidate for Congress, who held a news conference to denounce the actions of federal authorities.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco, who called the incident "upsetting" but said it was an isolated event.

Doug Yakel

A spokesperson for San Francisco International Airport, who said the airport believes the incident was an isolated event and not indicative of a broader immigration crackdown.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We don't want ICE here and when ICE descends on our communities, it only creates fear.”

— Scott Wiener, State Senator

“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.”

— Unnamed DHS spokesperson

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and Wendy Godinez-Jimenez out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement, especially at airports, and the concerns of local officials about the presence of federal immigration agents in their communities.