US Border Patrol agents pepper-sprayed Rafael Veraza and his one-year-old daughter Arianna in the Sam’s Club parking lot in Cicero, just outside Chicago’s Little Village neighbourhood, during Operation Midway Blitz on Saturday morning.
During the Saturday clash between federal officers and people in Little Village, days after a federal judge tightened rules on how immigration enforcement agents may use force under a preliminary injunction now being appealed by the Department of Justice, ABC news reported.
The Department of Homeland Security said its agents had entered the parking lot after facing gunfire and other attacks.
The viral video captured the moment Veraza said he and his family were sprayed. “He started spraying from the front of the car towards the back. Basically I got sprayed all over my face,” Veraza said.
Veraza, who has had asthma since childhood, said the effects were immediate. “I’m asthmatic. I’ve been with asthma since I was a little kid. So the moment that it hit me, I couldn’t breathe.” He added that his daughter, who was riding in the back of the car, also inhaled the gas and both were briefly hospitalised. “My daughter was trying to open her eyes. She was struggling to breathe.”
DHS denies allegations
The US Department of Homeland security is once again justifying their actions. On Sunday, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on social media: “No. There was no crowd control or pepper spray deployed in a Sam’s Club parking lot. Though, over the weekend in Chicago, law enforcement was shot at, bricks thrown at them, they were rammed with vehicles and other attacks...”
Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents had entered the parking lot shortly after deploying crowd-control measures on residents of Little Village. It said the actions followed gunshots fired from a black Jeep Wrangler “aimed directly at them”. “Individuals stalked and followed the convoy into the parking lot and a vehicle rammed a Border Patrol’s vehicle,” a DHS statement read in part. “After departing the parking lot, the law enforcement convoy was again attacked resulting in a broken window.”
The department released images showing damage to its vehicles but offered no explanation for why Veraza and his family, who had abandoned their shopping trip after seeing the agents’ presence, were pepper-sprayed. “I’m not even doing a thing,” Veraza said. “I’m trying to exit.”
In its statement, Homeland Security continued to label protesters as “rioters”, noting that Border Patrol arrested nine people on Saturday, eight of them U.S. citizens. It remains unclear whether charges have been filed.
In response to the crackdown, the Indivisible Chicago Alliance held its second Chicagoland day of action on Sunday. The group gathered in West Town to assemble ICE watch packets containing whistles, buttons and informational pamphlets, and hosted sessions on knowing one’s rights.
DHS releases full statement: What it reads
“Yesterday around 9:30 AM, in the Chicago neighbourhood of Little Village, U.S. Border Patrol was attacked while conducting immigration enforcement operations. Border Patrol was accosted by a hostile crowd that boxed them into a street and alleyway. As they were apprehending a subject, agents came under direct gunfire when a male driving a black Jeep Wrangler fired multiple rounds. He immediately fled the scene.
“Attackers then began throwing bricks and even paint cans from a roof, damaging Border Patrol vehicles. Chicago Police Department successfully helped law enforcement evacuate the area as more bricks were thrown at the law enforcements’ vehicle. Fortunately, no Border Patrol agents were injured in this attack.
“After clearing the scene of the first attack, Border Patrol then encountered a vehicle that attempted to ram their convoy at the intersection of Cermak and California, but was thwarted when a Controlled Tire Deflation Device was deployed. The Border Patrol convoy then proceeded toward an FBI facility and encountered two drivers trying to impede operations. After they were warned to stop, one of the drivers attempted to ram the convoy. The driver was arrested. Border Patrol reached the FBI facility when rioters attempted to breach security there. Chicago Police responded to help secure the perimeter.
“Border Patrol then left the FBI facility and then encountered protesters lying in the street near 26th and Pulaski. As the rioters refused to comply with basic instructions and began throwing objects, Border Patrol deployed crowd control measures, cleared the area, and proceeded to a Sam’s Club parking lot. Individuals stalked and followed the convoy into the parking lot and a vehicle rammed a Border Patrol’s vehicle. Three suspects were immediately arrested for assault.
“After departing the parking lot, the law enforcement convoy was again attacked resulting in a broken window. The convoy became stuck at 26th and Kostner and sustained window damage along with a fourth vehicle ramming. The subject fled the scene and Border Patrol pursued. This driver remains at large.
“As a result of yesterday’s multiple attacks-fuelled by sanctuary politicians and the media-Border Patrol arrested 8 U.S. citizens and one illegal alien. Thankfully, no Border Patrol agents were injured during these multiple attacks.
“‘JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson have fuelled an environment of lawlessness and assault on federal law enforcement,’ said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. ‘In less than three hours in Chicago, Border Patrol faced gunshots, violent mobs at every stop, bricks and other objects thrown at them, and four vehicle rammings. The violence in Chicago against law enforcement is unprecedented-These attacks are the consequence of vitriolic smears from sanctuary politicians and the media. Just last week, Chicago and national media falsely accused law enforcement of raiding a daycare centre. Now, they are silent when our agents come under gunfire.
“‘Make no mistake: Our mission will continue despite the violence. To any Antifa terrorist in Chicago: You will not stop us. You will not slow us down. And if you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will face the consequences.’”
President Donald Trump ordered in September to designate a decentralised movement known as antifa as a domestic terrorist organisation. Short for “anti-fascists,” antifa is not a single organisation but rather an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.