Federal agents are pepper spraying civilians.

Question

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.

Answer 1

This is unfortunately true. There are confirmed reports of federal officers assaulting civilians using pepper spray in efforts for immigration reform. One of the most recent incidents happened in Little Village, Chicago, when a father and his one-year-old daughter were pepper-sprayed at close range in a grocery store parking lot. According to the NBC News Article (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chicago-family-pepper-spray-allegations-ice-immigration-cicero-rcna242536), this father and his wife were not honking or protesting in any way, shape, or form. There have also been reports of civilians being pepper-sprayed and detained outside of the Eugene federal building (https://www.klcc.org/politics-government/2025-09-24/protesters-pepper-sprayed-detained-at-eugene-federal-building).

Answer 2

Yes, it has been reported that federal agents are pepper spraying civilians. In an article I found by ABC news, video is provided of the family with irritated eyes after the alleged incident. 

This is along with other recorded incidents of federal agents pepper spraying nonviolent protestors, as reported on by the OregonLive. In these videos you can see the protestors talking to the agents, but not putting their hands anywhere near them. 

This is considered excessive force, as Pepper Spray Injury Attorneys note this,

"While there are several circumstances under which police can justify the use of pepper spray, there are cases where its use is considered excessive force. This includes cases in which:

• The person is complying with instructions given by the police
• The person is not behaving violently or being dangerous
• There is no current threat to officers or other individuals in the area
• The person is already under police control or has surrendered to police"

Though the U.S. Dept. of Homeland security denies this, overwhelming evidence is popping up over the country of this excessive force.

https://abc7.com/post/1-year-old-baby-parents-allegedly-pepper-sprayed-federal-agents-during-immigration-raid-chicago/18140265/

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/10/federal-officer-blasts-chemical-spray-into-vocal-but-nonviolent-portland-protester-video-shows.html

https://peppersprayinjury.com/blog/when-can-police-use-pepper-spray/

Answer 3

With the recent uptick of unrest and arrests caused by ICE, it does seem that some of their federal agents have been pepper spraying civilians. This post is referring specifically to an incident in Cicero, Illinois, where a 1 year old girl was maced by ICE. A first-hand video on reddit shows the aftermath of this incident, with the family in distress. The family's account was also published in the Guardian. Another clip posted reddit shows ICE agents threatening members of the public with pepper spray. It does appear true that ICE is pepepr spraying and macing civilians, including children.