'Act like a citizen': Video shows United Airlines agent threatening customer with ICE
A United Airlines customer service agent at San Francisco International Airport threatens to summon U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a patron in video shared Thursday by air travel blog View from the Wing.
United Airlines said it is looking into the incident, according to The Nerd Stash.
The 83-second video opens mid-argument, with both the agent and the customer recording each other on their phones. The agent, whose badge identifies her as a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, speaks first.
"Maybe we should call ICE on you," she can be heard to say.
"You're gonna call ICE on me?" the customer replied. "Oh, say that again. Say that again."
"Maybe you need to be — because you don't act like a citizen," the agent said. "Get away."
"Who are you gonna call on me?" the customer shot back.
A second employee stepped in, trying to calm things down.
"You want the police to get involved?" the second employee asked, according to the video.
"No," the customer replied. "I want ICE, like she said."
"I dare you to call ICE on me," he said repeatedly, according to the video.
The agent did not appear to call anyone. Instead, the argument continued.
"You need to leave," the agent told him, according to the video.
"Say it again," the customer replied. "Got some guts, lady."
"Get it out of my face," the agent snapped.
"Say it again!" the customer demanded.
"Get out of my face," the agent repeated. "Get out of my face."
"You're a— is fired," the customer exclaimed, according to the video. "You're getting fired. You'll get fired, and I'm suing you because you are racist as hell. You are racist. You are racist."
Toward the end of the video, the agent left the counter and approached the customer. The image jolts as the customer alleges she reached for his phone.
"I'm just trying to help you," the agent told him.
"No!" the customer shouted back. "No! No! You didn't help anything, and don't touch me!"