Full Breakdown
United Airlines Employee Threatens to Call ICE on Passenger at San Francisco Airport
7/21/2026, 11:51:11 PM
Incident Overview
On July 14, Julio Varela, a 54-year-old East Bay resident, was attempting to correct a ticketing error for his daughter at San Francisco International Airport. After a prolonged exchange with a United Airlines customer-service employee, Varela recorded the interaction. Varela responds, “You’re going to call ICE on me?” The confrontation, captured on Varela’s phone and later uploaded to Reddit, quickly went viral.
Background
Varela’s family was traveling to Montreal. A mistake had placed his daughter’s middle name in the surname field, causing the airline to refuse boarding. The family spent several hours moving between United and Air Canada desks while trying to obtain a corrected ticket. The employee eventually told them she could not help, implying the flight would be missed, prompting Varela to request the employee’s name.
Official Statements & Responses
- The airline confirmed it is conducting an internal investigation but provided no details on possible disciplinary action.
- Ronald Cabanayan, an immigration and criminal-defense attorney, said the incident could form the basis of a civil-rights lawsuit, stating that profiling a passenger based on appearance, race, ethnicity, or national origin would violate civil-rights law.
Criticism & Opposition
The union’s skepticism about the video’s authenticity contrasts with Varela’s claim that the recording accurately reflects the exchange. Legal experts highlighted the potential for civil-rights action, emphasizing that threats to involve Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may constitute unlawful discrimination. No disciplinary outcome has been disclosed by United Airlines as of the latest reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My reaction was shock, disbelief, anger, embarrassment,” — Julio Varela, east bay resident
- “I’m asking for your name so I can report you,” — Julio Varela, east bay resident
- “You're going to call ICE on me?” — Julio Varela, east bay resident
- “I was so shocked, I was angry,” — Julio Varela, east bay resident
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the verification of the video. United Airlines and the IAM union have not confirmed the footage’s authenticity, while Varela maintains the video is genuine and representative of the encounter. No independent third-party verification has been reported, leaving the factual completeness of the exchange uncertain.
What’s Next
United Airlines continues its internal review, and the airline has not announced any disciplinary measures. Attorney Cabanayan indicated that Varela may pursue civil-rights litigation, though no lawsuit has been filed at this time. The situation remains under investigation, and further updates are expected pending the airline’s findings.
