Ukrainian Woman’s Arrest at SFO Sparks Concerns

A video depicting the arrest of a Ukrainian woman by immigration agents at San Francisco International Airport is generating attention and raising questions regarding the manner of the arrest. This incident surfaces at a time when similar stories have been on the rise nationwide since June, prompting attorneys to advise clients against flying.

The footage shows the woman, dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, restrained on the ground outside a store at SFO by two men seemingly in plainclothes. She cries out, “You’re choking me!” and “Please help me!” as bystanders question the men’s actions. At one point, she exclaims, “I’m from Ukraine!”

Among the witnesses was Doria Robinson, a city council member from Richmond, who recorded the event on her phone. Robinson was near the Harvey Milk Terminal at gate B7 when she heard the woman’s loud cries, prompting her to investigate and document the events unfold on social media.

Robinson initially suspected a case of domestic violence or human trafficking. As she approached, she captured the situation on video, noting that many onlookers watched. She observed that the men lacked visible identification and, despite public inquiries, did not disclose their affiliations. Ultimately, they secured the woman in handcuffs and transported her away in a wheelchair.

According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, ICE arrested Iryna Gorb, identified as the Ukrainian woman, on July 22 at SFO. The spokesperson stated that Gorb attempted to flee and resisted arrest. They clarified that Gorb had legally entered the U.S. in 2010 with a visa that expired in May 2011, but she remained in the country an additional 15 years. Gorb is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Immigration attorneys, including Ghassan Shamieh, have expressed concern after viewing the arrest video circulating on social media. Shamieh, not representing Gorb, described the video as chilling. He reported a noticeable increase in airport detentions, with some of his clients, who have no criminal records, detained recently. This trend has led Shamieh and advocates to caution clients against air travel, even for domestic flights within the United States.

Robinson shared her unease regarding the incident and concerns for Gorb’s future. She reflected on the collective helplessness experienced by those who witnessed the arrest.

SFO’s spokesperson informed that the airport lacks further information about the incident beyond what has been publicly shared. The spokesperson clarified that ICE and DHS, as federal entities, operate independently of U.S. airports, which are not informed of or involved in their operational decisions.