Rafael Veraza says that him and his 1 year old daughter were pepper sprayed in a Sam’s Club parking lot in Chicago. They viewed signals often used to warn that immigration agents are nearby and decided end their grocery shopping trip early. Veraza says that as they were trying to leave, a masked federal agent pointed pepper spray at them through their car window and sprayed him in the face, which affected his daughter as well. A video of this was caught by both the family, and a local pastor. The video allegedly shows Veraza struggling to open his eyes and his daughter crying as she is comforted by her mother.
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security disputed the account. They claim that no pepper spray was used in the Sam’s Club parking lot and reject the family’s allegations. This issue is causing a rise in community frustration and has been a focal point of the ongoing crackdown in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. This event is also inflicting more fear onto the public, as now simple everyday activities like shopping feel dangerous.
