In brief
Rafael Veraza and his daughter were pepper-sprayed as federal agents clashed with residents in Cicero, Illinois, over immigration enforcement operations that have sparked widespread protests. The incident has raised serious concerns about the use of force by federal agents in civilian situations. Veraza recounted his daughter's distress during the incident, while federal officials denied the family's account, sparking further outrage in the community.
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, the family said.
Rafael Veraza said the incident occurred in a Sam’s Club parking lot in Cicero on Saturday, amid escalating conflicts that day between immigration agents and frustrated area residents. The suburb borders Little Village, a largely Mexican neighborhood that has frequently been at the center of federal immigration crackdowns.
Veraza mentioned that the family was in their car when they heard a helicopter and honking, which are signs that federal agents are nearby. Concerned for their safety, they decided to leave.
That was when a masked agent pointed a pepper-spray gun through their vehicle’s open window and fired. A video recorded by the family shows Veraza reacting as a cloud of the substance hits him and his young daughter.
“My daughter was trying to open her eyes,” Veraza told reporters as his wife held their daughter and comforted her. “She was struggling to breathe.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security rejected the family’s account, stating, “There was no crowd control or pepper spray deployed in a Sam’s Club parking lot,” according to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
A day of tensions
Saturday marked chaotic enforcement operations across the city, leading to more than 3,200 arrests. There are growing concerns about the aggressive methods used by immigration agents.
Veraza’s experience is part of a larger pattern of immigrant communities facing heightened scrutiny and enforcement over the last few months, often resulting in protests and community backlash. Community leaders and advocates have condemned the use of excessive force by federal agents, urging for reforms and protection of civil rights.
Despite initial denials from federal authorities, the event has sparked further discussions on the treatment of immigrants and the methods employed by federal enforcement in areas with a significant immigrant population.
