Federal Immigration Officers Detain Mother and Daughter at SFO, Sparking Sanctuary Policy Debate
Federal immigration officers detained a woman and her daughter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Sunday night, an incident that prompted witness concerns and statements from city, state, and federal officials. The detention led to discussions about local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement actions.
Incident Details
On Sunday night, around 10 p.m., two federal immigration officers detained Angelina Godinez-Lopez at SFO's Terminal 3. Her daughter, Wendy Godinez-Lopez, was present during the incident. Videos circulated on social media show the woman clinging to an airport bench before being moved into a wheelchair by the agents.
Witnesses reported hearing screaming and a child crying. Some onlookers questioned the officers regarding their identification and badges, with one witness stating they received no response. Some individuals present reportedly shouted phrases such as "this is illegal" and "don’t choke her."
Videos circulated on social media show the woman clinging to an airport bench before being moved into a wheelchair by the agents.
Official Statements and Actions
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DHS confirmed the arrest, stating that the family, identified as Angelina and Wendy Godinez-Lopez, had an "outstanding final order of removal since 2019." DHS further reported that Lopez-Jimenez, referring to the mother, "attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers" while being escorted to the international terminal for processing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is working to repatriate the family to Guatemala.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
SFO officials confirmed that federal officers were transporting two individuals on an outbound flight. SFO stated it was not involved in or notified in advance of the incident and believed it to be an isolated event, with airport operations continuing without disruption.
San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
SFPD officers responded to a 911 call and were present at the scene, forming a line as a barrier. SFPD stated their officers maintained public safety and did not assist in or prevent the federal enforcement action. SFPD reiterated that its officers do not assist in enforcing civil federal immigration laws, aligning with city policy.
Local Policies and Legal Context
California and the City of San Francisco maintain sanctuary policies that generally prohibit local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal immigration enforcement. These policies prevent local agencies from using their resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest individuals for immigration enforcement purposes. Legal experts indicated that the described activity does not appear to fall under the limited exceptions to these policies.
California and the City of San Francisco maintain sanctuary policies that generally prohibit local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal immigration enforcement.
Reactions from Public Officials
Multiple public officials have issued statements following the incident:
- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie stated he found the incident "upsetting." He reiterated that SFPD officers were present to maintain public safety without involvement in the immigration enforcement, aligning with the city's policy.
- State Senator Scott Wiener criticized ICE's tactics and stated that ICE was "not welcome" in San Francisco or at SFO. He also expressed skepticism regarding the DHS statement.
- Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Kevin Mullin issued a joint statement requesting immediate information on the mother's and child's condition and the grounds for detainment. They also clarified that the incident was unrelated to a prior announcement about deploying ICE agents to airports for TSA lines.
Broader Context
The incident at SFO coincided with the deployment of ICE officers to airports nationwide during an ongoing situation regarding Department of Homeland Security funding.