United worker has furious meltdown at California flyer and threatens to call ICE: ‘You don’t act like a citizen’

A United Airlines worker erupted at a Mexican-born US citizen during a wild airport showdown in California, threatening to call ICE on the passenger before snapping, “You don’t act like a citizen.”

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The stunning exchange was captured on video Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport, where passenger Julio Varela was trying to get a ticketing issue resolved before flying to Montreal with his wife and two daughters.

“Maybe we should call ICE on you,” the uniformed employee tells Varela in a clip that has since gone viral on Reddit.

When Varela asks her to repeat herself, she responds: “Maybe you need to be, because you don’t act like a citizen. Get away.”

Varela, a Mexican-American naturalized US citizen and San Ramon business owner, later accused the employee of racism and said the explosive remark came during an hours-long ordeal to get his family aboard their flight.

“I am Mexican. I was born in Mexico. I am a US citizen. I own my own business. I pay taxes. I employ people,” Varela told KQED.

“For her, especially with what’s going on right now in America … to say that to a minority, especially a Hispanic person, I think it’s really, really hateful and it’s really racist,” he added.

“We’re looking into the interaction in this video, but don’t have anything additional to share at this time,” United Airlines said in a statement to the Post.

The dispute stemmed from a problem with one of the family’s tickets after Varela’s wife mistakenly entered their daughter’s middle name in the last-name field while booking the trip.

Varela said the family spent about 15 hours on the phone with the airline over two weeks trying to resolve the error, but the issue remained unresolved by their travel date.

After almost three more hours trying to fix the problem, Air Canada rebooked three family members but needed United to update Varela’s daughter’s ticket before finishing her reservation.

Varela said he began filming after the United employee dismissed the family’s problem and refused to give them her name when requested.

One clip shows Varela repeatedly asking the employee to identify herself and calling her “lazy” and “rude.”

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“I’ve asked you for your name,” he says.

The employee repeatedly tells him to move away before walking out of the counter area.

When another employee asks whether he wants police involved, Varela responds: “No, I want ICE, like she said.”

The argument escalates further as the employee tells Varela several times to move away and get his phone out of her face, while he calls her racist, says she will be fired and threatens to sue.

Toward the end of the footage, the employee steps out from behind the counter and approaches Varela, holding her phone.

The video jolts and Varela can be heard telling her not to touch him.

Varela later told KQED that the employee pushed his hand away, causing the recording to stop.

He later admitted on Reddit that he lost his temper and could have handled the situation differently, but said he was calm before the employee got involved and that her ICE comment only intensified the argument.

The employee’s badge appears to indicate she is a union steward with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents United passenger service employees.

“We are aware of a video being circulated online, but we have no verification of its authenticity or the full context,” the union said in a statement to KQED.

“As depicted, the comments made in the video do not reflect the views or values of the IAM Union. Any potential matters arising from this incident will be handled through the appropriate processes established by the collective bargaining agreement.”

Despite the blowup, the family ultimately made its flight after another employee stepped in to help.

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