Chicago, IL — A suburban Chicago father and his 1-year-old daughter say they were pepper-sprayed at close range by federal immigration agents in a Sam’s Club parking lot over the weekend amid escalating tensions tied to a federal immigration crackdown in the area.
Rafael Veraza of Cicero said the incident occurred Saturday as he and his family were preparing to go grocery shopping. The suburb borders Little Village, a predominantly Mexican neighborhood that has been a focal point of recent federal immigration operations.
Family Says They Were Caught in the Chaos
Veraza told reporters that his family was inside their car when they heard a helicopter overhead and honking cars, which have become informal signals warning of immigration agents nearby. The family decided to leave the parking lot when, according to Veraza, a masked federal agent pointed a pepper-spray gun through the vehicle’s open window and fired.
“My daughter was trying to open her eyes,” Veraza said. “She was struggling to breathe.”
Veraza emphasized that his family was not protesting or interfering with agents. A local pastor, Rev. Matt DeMateo, arrived moments later and recorded video showing Veraza struggling to open his eyes while his crying daughter, Arianna, was comforted by her mother.
“A family — and I shouldn’t have to say this — but all U.S. citizens attacked while shopping,” DeMateo said. “We need a better way.”
The incident was first reported by the Associated Press, which obtained statements from both the family and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to AP News, DHS officials disputed the family’s account, denying that agents used chemical agents at the Cicero Sam’s Club.
“There was no crowd control or pepper spray deployed in a Sam’s Club parking lot,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.
A Day of Escalating Tensions
Saturday marked one of the most chaotic days since the Chicago-area immigration operation began two months ago. More than 3,200 arrests have been made across the metro region as part of the federal enforcement initiative led by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Federal agents have been accused of using chemical agents liberally throughout the city, including incidents near schools, daycares, and community events.
“Make no mistake: Our mission will continue despite the violence,” McLaughlin said, referring to clashes between agents and protesters.
DHS alleged that during Saturday’s operations, agents faced a “hostile crowd” and were targeted with paint cans, bricks, and gunfire, prompting local police to respond. No injuries were reported.
However, residents and witnesses, including Rev. DeMateo, have accused agents of deploying tear gas and pepper balls near unarmed civilians without provocation.
Federal Oversight and Legal Restrictions
The confrontation comes as a federal judge in Chicago recently issued an injunction limiting how immigration agents can use force. The court order restricts agents from deploying tear gas, pepper balls, and riot-control weapons unless “objectively necessary” to prevent immediate harm.
“Agents must now provide at least two verbal warnings before using riot control measures,” the order states.
The ruling followed accusations that a top Border Patrol official lied about threats posed by protesters during earlier operations. DHS has since appealed the injunction, arguing it could hinder enforcement efforts.
Meanwhile, ICE has also faced pressure to improve conditions at a suburban processing center described by activists as a “de facto detention facility” with inhumane conditions.
Growing Community Concern
The reported pepper-spray incident and broader clashes have intensified community fears in Little Village and surrounding suburbs. Local advocacy groups are calling for greater accountability and transparency in immigration enforcement tactics.
Residents continue to use whistles and car horns to alert neighbors about nearby agents, while local businesses display signs warning federal officers to stay away.
“We are a community trying to protect one another,” said DeMateo. “No one — especially a child — should be harmed just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As federal operations continue, both DHS and Chicago Police are facing mounting scrutiny from residents, activists, and city officials demanding answers.
What are your thoughts on this developing situation and how communities can balance safety with immigration enforcement? Share your views in the comments below.
