CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago father and his 1-year-old daughter were pepper-sprayed at close range as they headed grocery shopping over the weekend and happened upon federal immigration agents, according to the family.
Rafael Veraza reported that the incident occurred in a Sam’s Club parking lot in Cicero on Saturday, amid escalating clashes that day between immigration agents and frustrated area residents, particularly in the neighborhood of Little Village that has been frequently targeted in a federal crackdown on immigration violations.
Veraza stated that as they drove away, a masked agent pointed a pepper-spray gun through their vehicle’s window and fired, affecting both him and his daughter. A video recorded by the family showed the chaotic aftermath where Arianna was seen struggling to open her eyes.
“My daughter was trying to open her eyes,” Veraza recollected. “She was struggling to breathe.”
Despite their claims, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security disputed the family’s account, asserting that no crowd control measures or pepper spray were employed in the parking lot. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denounced the allegations and defended the actions of federal agents.
This incident is just one of many during a chaotic day when more than 3,200 arrests had been reported across the Chicago area as part of a broader crackdown. Local residents have expressed outrage over the aggressive tactics being utilized by Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, including the use of riot control substances.
Local pastor Rev. Matt DeMateo witnessed the struggle and voiced his concerns over the treatment of everyday citizens, saying, “All U.S. citizens attacked while shopping... We need a better way.”
On the ground, tensions escalated as protesters confronted police, alleging that federal agents acted without provocation. Eyewitness testimonies suggest that agents have been using pepper balls and tear gas indiscriminately during their operations, raising questions about acceptable enforcement practices amidst ongoing legal challenges against these methods.
The local community, including DeMateo and his colleagues, demand a review of federal agents' use of the force as tensions continue to rise in the immigrant-heavy neighborhoods of Chicago.
