United Airlines Under Investigation After Employee Allegedly Threatened Passenger with ICE Call

On July 14, 2026, a routine check‑in at San Francisco International Airport turned tense for Julio Varela, a 54‑year‑old resident of San Ramon, and his family. They were trying to correct a simple mistake on their daughter’s airline ticket when a United Airlines employee at the ticket counter allegedly said, “Maybe we should call ICE on you,” followed by, “You don’t act like a citizen.”

The exchange, which was captured on a passenger’s phone and later posted to social media, quickly spread across Reddit and other platforms. In the video, the employee refuses to give a name, records the conversation, and, according to Varela, even shoves his hand, causing his phone to slip to the floor.

Varela – whose wife and three daughters are all U.S. citizens – says the comment was not only startling but also deeply offensive. “We were just trying to fix a typo, and suddenly we’re being threatened with immigration enforcement,” he told reporters. The family’s frustration grew as the employee’s tone grew louder, culminating in the chilling ICE remark.

United Airlines responded within hours, issuing a brief statement that it was “looking into the interaction” and that it had “no additional comment at this time.” The airline’s spokesperson declined to name the employee or provide further details, citing an ongoing internal review.

Other news outlets, including NBC News Bay Area, USA Today, CBS News San Francisco, and ABC 7’s KGO‑TV, have echoed the basic facts: the incident happened at the United counter in Terminal 2, the employee allegedly made the threatening remarks, and the airline has launched an investigation.

While United’s investigation is still underway, the episode has already reignited broader concerns about how airline staff handle disputes with passengers, especially those that touch on immigration status. Advocacy groups argue that a single offhand comment can create a chilling effect, making travelers of certain backgrounds feel unwelcome or unsafe.

For now, Varela’s family is waiting for answers. “We just want to know what happened and that it won’t happen to anyone else,” he said. United has not indicated whether disciplinary action will be taken, but the airline’s reputation for customer service is certainly on the line.

As the story develops, the public will be watching to see whether United’s internal probe leads to concrete changes, or if this will become another footnote in the ongoing conversation about immigration rhetoric in everyday American settings.