United Airlines says it will ‘look into’ worker’s threat to call ICE in viral video
United staffer told customer ‘you don’t act like at a citizen’ during incident over wait time at San Francisco airport
United Airlines is “looking into” a viral video showing a United Airlines employee threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Mexican American man at San Francisco international Airport last week.
The scene erupted after Julio Varela of San Ramon grew upset at United Airlines staff for taking a long time to correct an error his family made when entering his daughter’s name to buy a ticket for flight to Canada, according to NBC News.
After three hours of waiting and a sour exchange with a United Airlines staffer, Varela pulled out his phone and demanded the woman to identify her self.
“I’m asking for your name so I can report you,” Varela said in a video that has attracted wide attention.
The United staffer responded by pulling out her own phone and recording him.
“Maybe we should call ICE on you,” the woman replied. “You don’t act like a citizen.”
Ramon, who is a naturalized citizen, grew still more angry after that comment.
“Call ICE on me, lady,” the man says.
The two then trade volleys, with Varela repeatedly saying “say it again” as she responds: “Get out my face.”
“United Airlines has a racist customer service lady!” Varela yells. “She’s lazy as hell!”
Another United Airlines staffer can be seen sighing and rolling her eyes.
“We’re looking into the interaction in this video, but don’t have anything additional to share at this time,” the airline wrote in an emailed statement.
Varela expressed concern about possibly being detained by ICE upon his return to the United States from Montreal, despite being a US citizen. But nothing happened when he returned, according to NBC News.
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