Video footage capturing the arrest of a Ukrainian woman by immigration agents at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has sparked public discussion and scrutiny. The incident highlights an increase in similar situations across the United States since June.
The video shows a woman in a white shirt and dark pants restrained on the floor outside a store at SFO. Two men, appearing to be in plainclothes, are seen pinning her down. The woman, later identified as Ukrainian, cries, “You’re choking me!” and “Please help me!” While bystanders gather, they question the reason for her arrest. At one point, the woman exclaims, “I’m from Ukraine!”
Doria Robinson, a Richmond city council member, witnessed the event. She was nearby at the Harvey Milk Terminal, waiting for a flight at the B7 gate. Robinson heard a woman’s loud cries and saw two men taking the woman down and restraining her. Initially, Robinson suspected it could be a case of domestic violence or human trafficking, but as she approached, she decided to record the event on her phone.
Robinson stated she saw no visible identification on the men. The crowd’s inquiries about their affiliation went unanswered. Eventually, the men handcuffed the woman and removed her in a wheelchair.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed that on July 22, ICE detained a Ukrainian woman named Iryna Gorb at SFO. The spokesperson claimed Gorb attempted to flee and resisted arrest. DHS indicated Gorb entered the U.S. lawfully in 2010, overstaying her visa, which expired in May 2011, remaining in the country for 15 more years.
Gorb remains in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings, according to the DHS spokesperson. Many immigration attorneys have reviewed the social media video of the arrest.
Ghassan Shamieh, a Bay Area immigration attorney, shared his concerns about the video. Although not representing Gorb, he found the footage disturbing. Shamieh noted a recent increase in airport detentions, citing four clients detained, including one at SFO. He mentioned none of these clients had criminal records.
Robinson expressed her dismay over the event and concerns about Gorb’s fate, noting the public’s helplessness during the arrest. “We were complicit, and there was nothing we could do to help her, and that was just demoralizing,” Robinson stated.
An SFO spokesperson remarked that the airport lacks details beyond social media reports. They clarified that as ICE and DHS are federal entities, airport authorities are not part of or informed about their actions.