“You Should Be Thankful”: Dad Shares “Humiliating” United Airlines Episode, Gets Criticized

A devoted foster father accused United Airlines of “humiliating” him for simply traveling with two young girls, who were placed under his guardianship after their previous adoptive parents abandoned them.

Jim Niven was flying from Costa Rica to Denver with the two Colombian girls when the airline staff accused him of trafficking them to the US.

He called it “humiliating” after police officers “interrogated [him] in full view” of other passengers.

United Airlines was accused of “humiliating” a father for traveling with his two foster daughters

Multiple United Airlines planes parked at the airport tarmac near terminals on a sunny day

Image credits: David Syphers/Unsplash

“This was only because they don’t look like me and they don’t speak English,” he said.

The two girls were previously adopted by a family in the US, and hence, they already had their US citizenship.

But the Colorado parents walked away from the adoption and gave up custody of the girls, aged 13 and 15.

White foster dad wearing glasses and blazer, standing indoors near a grand piano, linked to trafficking accusation by United Airlines crew.

Image credits: Jim Niven

Jim then opened his heart and home up to the girls, who are currently under his legal guardianship.

The father has fostered more than 50 children with his wife and adopted three others, including two from China.

“Our family is not a typical one, and we are proud of that,” he said.

Jim Niven said he currently has legal guardianship over the two Hispanic girls, whose adoptive family had walked away from their adoption

White foster dad with children near a car, related to allegations by United Airlines crew involving Latina daughters trafficking.

Image credits: Jim Niven

While traveling from Costa Rica to Denver on July 2, the airline staff allegedly accused him of trafficking the two young girls.

“Because I’m white and my two Latina wards don’t speak English, United staff accused me of s*x trafficking and dr*gging them… without asking a single question or checking our long travel history together,” he wrote on social media.

“The crew refused to speak to the girls in Spanish — on a flight FROM a Spanish-speaking country — and reported us,” he added.

Once they landed at Denver International Airport, Jim and the girls were questioned by Denver Police, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents and United Airlines staff.

Busy airport terminal with travelers and United Airlines crew amid trafficking accusations involving foster dad and Latina daughters.

Image credits: David Syphers/Unsplash

Social media comment by Taylor Walker discussing human trafficking concerns and safety during questioning.

He was “interrogated in full view” of other passengers, the enraged father said.

“It was humiliating. It was traumatic. And it was unjust,” he said on social media, accusing the airline staff of racially profiling him and the two Hispanic girls.

He told the Denver Post that the authorities “settled down” after he showed them his guardianship papers for the teenagers.

The father claimed he was “interrogated in full view” of other passengers and called it “humiliating”

White foster dad and woman standing in forest near river, related to trafficking accusations by United Airlines crew.

Image credits: Jim Niven

Comment from Kirsty Boyd expressing hope that the family who adopted Latina daughters is never allowed to adopt again.

Jim revealed that he contacted United Airlines to demand both an apology and a refund for the “ridiculous” ordeal.

“We have a long and very well documented history of traveling together as a family, sometimes all of us, and often in smaller groupings of siblings and guardians, depending on the trip,” he wrote in his post.

If the staff had checked their records, they would have seen that the girls had traveled with him several times on previous United flights, he said.

Family group photo with foster dad and Latina daughters, related to trafficked daughters accused by United Airlines crew.

Image credits: Jim Niven

Screenshot of a social media comment about a white foster dad accused of trafficking Latina daughters by airline crew.

He also noted that he could have provided them with copies of the guardianship documents if they had asked him before alerting authorities.

“United did not follow any means of using common sense, even the most basic protocols, such as checking travel records, or asking a question,” he wrote.

Transportation Security Administration trash bin with blue lid in airport setting, related to trafficking investigation by United Airlines crew

Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash

Comment mentioning racial profiling and humiliating incident involving a white foster dad and Latina daughters accused by airline crew.

Moreover, he explained how his children may not look alike, but they are still part of his “beautifully blended” family.

“Our multiracial family is beautifully blended: Asian, African, Latin, South Pacific, European. We don’t all look alike,” he wrote on social media. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

As he demanded an apology and refund from the airline, he added, “United Airlines, this is not acceptable.”

“Being a white guardian to Latina children is not a crime. Being a multiracial family is not suspicious,” Jim said

United Airlines plane taking off under cloudy sky, related to trafficking accusations by airline crew.

Image credits: Henry Siismets/Unsplash

Comment from Alison Hamling discussing airline employees’ role in spotting trafficking and the need for faster verification processes.

“The trauma your staff inflicted on these girls, on top of everything they have already endured, is inexcusable,” he wrote. “You failed them. Your crew failed them. Your corporate response failed them. And your so called protocol is broken.”

“Being a white guardian to Latina children is not a crime. Being a multiracial family is not suspicious,” he added.

Passengers seated inside a commercial airplane cabin with a visible aisle, representing a United Airlines flight scene.

Image credits: Hanson Lu/Unsplash

Comment from Suzanne James discussing common sense and custody issues related to trafficking concerns on United Airlines flights.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection claimed Jim’s accusations were “unfounded” as they were released after “inspection.”

“United Airlines personnel suspected human trafficking and referred the travelers to the Denver Police Department, who requested assistance from CBP,” they told People. “CBP takes accusations of human trafficking seriously and officers did their due diligence to question the travelers.”

United Airlines planes parked at the airport with city skyline in the background during clear daylight hours.

Image credits: Jason Leung/Unsplash

“The travelers were released after CBP’s inspection, which lasted approximately 10 minutes,” they added.

The Denver Police also confirmed to the outlet that they responded to claims about possible trafficking at Denver International and concluded that there was no evidence of a crime being committed.

“America hates Dads,” one netizen commented, while another claimed, “Man’s just fishing for compensation here”

Text post discussing concerns about children being stopped, questioned, and possibly trafficked, referencing a foster dad case.

Comment text on a social media post discussing vigilant officers in a case involving a white foster dad accused of trafficking.

Comment discussing child trafficking concerns related to a foster dad accused by United Airlines crew.

United Airlines crew following protocols after white foster dad accused of trafficking Latina daughters during flight incident

Comment by Jenny Oliver discussing authorities acting on suspicion in a case involving a white foster dad accused of trafficking.

White foster dad accused of trafficking Latina daughters by United Airlines crew in a humiliating incident.

Comment from Richie D about embarrassing checks to protect children from trafficking in real-life situations.

White foster dad facing trafficking accusations involving Latina daughters, highlighted by United Airlines crew actions.

Comment criticizing a white foster dad accused of trafficking Latina daughters and the need for protective intervention.

Text excerpt displayed on a screen describing a father with his kids and absence of a mother figure in American society.

Comment expressing hope that the United Airlines crew involved in humiliating trafficking accusation is disciplined by the airline.

Comment criticizing United Airlines crew amid humiliating foster dad trafficking accusations involving Latina daughters.

Text post on social media discussing issues faced by fathers, related to humiliating trafficking accusations.

Text comment reading They were not profiling the children they were profiling HIM in a plain white background.

Comment text discussing airline crew decision to report suspected trafficking involving foster dad and Latina daughters.

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