At Least 79 Children Harmed by Tear Gas or Pepper Spray During U.S. Immigration Enforcement

Children in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon and Vermont were going about their daily routines—walking to school, shopping with their families, or attending protests—when federal immigration agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray near their homes, schools, and vehicles. The chemicals seeped into bedrooms, filled family cars, and left at least 79 children across the country with burns, respiratory distress, and long-term health concerns, according to verified reports and court documents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its use of these chemical agents, blaming “agitators” and parents for putting children in harm’s way. But body camera footage, lawsuits, and medical testimony paint a different picture: one of indiscriminate deployment, inadequate training, and a pattern of excessive force that has drawn comparisons to historical civil rights-era crackdowns.

This investigation, based on interviews with victims, medical experts, and legal records, reveals how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies led to a surge in tear gas and pepper spray use—and how children, often the most vulnerable, bore the brunt of the fallout.

Children Caught in the Crossfire

The children harmed by tear gas and pepper spray were not protesters or criminals. They were walking to school in Broadview, Illinois, leaving a shopping center in Columbus, Ohio, or sitting in strollers in Chicago. Some were at home in Minneapolis when the gas drifted through open windows, while others were at a protest in Portland, Oregon alongside elderly protesters and service dogs.

In one verified incident, a tear gas canister rolled under a family’s minivan in Minneapolis, triggering airbags and leaving a 6-month-old infant briefly unresponsive. The child required CPR and was hospitalized, along with two siblings who have severe asthma ^[1]. In another case, a 1-year-old girl in the backseat of a car was sprayed with pepper balls, causing her to scream and struggle to breathe ^[2]. A DHS spokesperson initially dismissed the incident as a “hoax,” but video evidence contradicted the claim.

Medical experts warn that children are particularly vulnerable to tear gas and pepper spray due to their smaller airways, faster breathing rates, and closer proximity to the ground where chemicals pool. A 2014 federal scientific panel confirmed that even low doses can cause harm, yet DHS policies lack clear safeguards for bystanders, including children ^[3].

Body camera footage obtained through legal channels shows federal agents releasing tear gas into crowds containing children, with one agent cheering after deployment. In another clip, an officer fires pepper spray through a car window at a family with a 1-year-old in the backseat ^[4].

Legal Challenges and Judicial Rebuke

Federal judges in Chicago and Portland have ruled that DHS officers used excessive force, deploying tear gas “without justification” and showing “deliberate indifference” to the risks to children. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, presiding over a Chicago case, wrote that tear gassing “expectant mothers, children, and babies shocks the conscience” and ordered DHS to limit chemical use in the area ^[5].

However, these rulings have been overturned by appellate courts, leaving no nationwide restrictions on tear gas use. Meanwhile, DHS continues to defend its actions, arguing that officers are trained to use “the minimum amount of force necessary” and that parents should avoid bringing children to protests. Critics, including former DHS Inspector General John Roth, call the findings a “bright red flag” signaling systemic failures in training and accountability ^[6].

Why Children Are at Risk

Tear gas, a mix of chemical irritants like CS gas and CN gas, causes immediate burning in the eyes, throat, and lungs. Pepper spray, derived from hot peppers, produces similar effects. Both agents can linger in the air, drift indoors, and settle on surfaces.

Children are especially susceptible because:

• Faster breathing rates: They inhale more contaminated air per body weight.
• Narrower airways: Chemicals cause more severe respiratory distress.
• Lower body position: Tear gas pools near the ground, where children play.

A 2018 study of Palestinian refugees exposed to tear gas found chronic health issues, including rashes and tonsillitis, though long-term effects remain poorly understood ^[7]. In the U.S., some children have developed asthma, required inhalers for the first time, or suffered psychological trauma from repeated exposures.

Policy Gaps and Legislative Responses

Unlike local police departments, which have adopted stricter rules on tear gas use—such as Portland’s requirement to consider proximity to homes—DHS lacks uniform national standards. A 2017 inspector general report found that ICE agents often failed to complete required training on these weapons ^[8].

Democratic lawmakers have introduced bills to address the issue:

• The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would strengthen use-of-force training nationwide.
• A House bill by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) proposing stricter DHS policies, including supervisor approval before deploying tear gas near crowds.
• A measure by Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) requiring DHS to report on force incidents every six months.

DHS has not responded to requests for comment on whether it will examine its training or discipline officers involved in these incidents. In January 2023, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told ICE officers they have “federal immunity” in the conduct of their duties ^[9].

What Happens Next?

The next critical checkpoint is a budget hearing where Democrats plan to question Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin about accountability for officers who deployed tear gas near children. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) has vowed to ask: “When is there going to be accountability for the people who sprayed pepper spray into a moving vehicle that had a 1-year-old in it?” ^[10]

In the meantime, families affected by tear gas exposure continue to seek medical care and legal recourse. The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that children’s long-term health risks from these exposures remain unknown, urging stricter safeguards.

Have You Been Affected?

If you or someone you know was harmed by tear gas or pepper spray during immigration enforcement, your account could help track ongoing cases. Share your experience confidentially with our team.

Stay informed on this developing story by following World Today Journal for updates on legislative actions, court rulings, and medical research.