Southwest Airlines Faces Backlash Over ICE Detention of Passenger at Denver Airport
Southwest Airlines has found itself engulfed in a ferocious social media backlash after it was accused of being complicit in the detention of a woman by undercover ICE agents as she went to board a Southwest plane at the Denver International Airport on Tuesday. A video shared on Instagram by Alicia Dantzker shows her female friend called Chantal, being detained by several male ICE agents in the jetway leading to a Southwest Airlines plane. Warning: video contains very strong language. As they lead Chantal out of the jetway and into the main airport concourse, Alicia screams “Help, Help us… ICE is here! Help us!” As onlookers approach to see what is happening, a Southwest Airlines employee attempts to push Alicia back into the jetway, while more undercover ICE agents shove Chantal out of another door that leads to the airside ramp. Other passengers then rush towards the expansive window looking down on the ramp with their cellphones in hand to record the detention, while banging on the glass. “This is f**king evil, you should be ashamed of yourself,” Alicia shouts at one of the ICE agents who had initially detained Chantal. At this point, another Southwest Airlines employee interjects, saying: “If you are on this flight, and you speak to them [the ICE agents] like that, then you will not board this flight.” One of the ICE agents then claims that the Southwest Airlines pilot was aware of the detention taking place. “Southwest was complicit,” Alicia wrote in a caption next to the now viral video on Instagram. “They helped ICE every step of the way.” “Southwest Airlines, explain yourself,” one person commented on the video. “If you are aiding and abetting ICE in violating the constitutional rights of your customers, that's everything I need to know about every flight choice I make for the rest of my life.” Another wote: “Southwest Airlines, I was looking at tickets last night with y'all. Glad I didn't buy, taking my family trip business elsewhere.” And a third wrote: “Need a statement from Southwest Airlines ASAP, or all my upcoming travel is rebooked. Aiding warrantless kidnapping because they are Federal employees is unacceptable!” In a statement, a spokesperson for Southwest told us: “Southwest complies with applicable state and federal law when asked to share information about Customers. The airline has provided guidance to Employees to help ensure appropriate legal documentation is presented by law enforcement agencies prior to interactions in the gate areas.” The statement added: “Southwest is committed to providing a safe travel experience for all Customers and Employees.” The airline also noted that it may deny travel to passengers who are disruptive or display threatening behavior. The incident comes just days after two undercover ICE agents tried (and failed) to detain a 57-year-old man with dual Vietnamese and Australian citizenship at Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport. The agents, one who covered his face with a hood, and the other who covered her face with a surgical mask, were not wearing any visible ID when they took Phu Nguyen to the ground in the check-in area and attempted to handcuff him. The female agent managed to handcuff one of his wrists, but when they noticed other passengers filming what they were doing, they quickly fled the scene , leaving the Phu still handcuffed. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were called and officers ended up releasing Phu from the handcuffs and allowing him to catch his flight to Los Angeles. On arrival, ICE agents were waiting for Phu to deplane and he was taken into custody. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement later said officers were 'forced' to abandon the detention attempt because of 'anti-ICE agitators.' There is, however, no evidence that the onlookers had any idea that the two agents were from ICE, given their lack of identification. "To de-escalate the situation and for officer safety, officers did not proceed with the arrest at the Las Vegas Airport and chose to instead arrest him at his flight the following day, departing the Los Angeles International Airport on July 14," a statement from the Department of Homeland Security explained.