Ukrainian Woman Detained by ICE Agents at San Francisco Airport: Video Sparks Widespread Public Outcry
At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plain clothes detained 38-year-old Ukrainian citizen Iryna Horb. The incident occurred on July 22, shortly after she stepped off a flight from Portland.
A video of the detention posted on social media quickly went viral. The footage shows several ICE agents taking the woman to the floor of the terminal. Horb can be heard screaming for help and saying that she is being choked.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the detention, according to NBC Bay Area. According to the agency, Horb entered the United States on a visa in 2010, but her authorized stay expired in 2011. Authorities say she subsequently remained in the country without legal status for approximately 15 years.
DHS also said that Horb attempted to flee and resisted law enforcement officers during the detention, which the agency said led to the use of physical force.
Following her arrest, Horb was taken to an immigration detention facility. According to information obtained by Slavic Sacramento, she is currently being held at the California City Immigration Processing Center in California while awaiting further proceedings in her deportation case.
The incident has sparked widespread public attention. The detention video was posted by Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson, who witnessed the incident. According to Robinson, the use of force by plainclothes officers in a crowded airport terminal shocked witnesses and raised questions about the tactics used during such operations.
In recent months, U.S. immigration authorities have significantly increased efforts to detain foreign nationals who have final orders of removal or are found to be in violation of immigration laws. Civil rights organizations, meanwhile, have expressed concern about immigration arrests in public places, including airports, and called on authorities to ensure greater transparency in law enforcement operations.
As of publication, no date has been announced for Horb’s immigration court hearing.
