A Protester Threw a Snowball. Federal Agents Responded With Tear Gas and Pepper Balls.

ProPublica and FRONTLINE report on a January 12 incident in Minneapolis where federal immigration agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls against protesters after a snowball was thrown, including striking journalist A.C. Thompson in the face multiple times—actions that violated federal use-of-force guidelines targeting the head and face. The reporting is sourced directly from on-the-ground video documentation, named sources including former Justice Department Civil Rights Division investigator Christy Lopez and former CBP chief Chris Magnus, and interviews with the affected journalist, with both experts characterizing the response as excessive force. Independent coverage from PBS, CalMatters, and Government Executive corroborates the broader investigation's findings that prosecutors have dismissed hundreds of protest-related charges against arrestees during Trump immigration sweeps, with evidence contradicting initial accusations. Watch for broader implications of the documentary's release and whether the Biden or Trump administrations implement systemic changes to federal agent training and oversight following the documented pattern of escalation and failed prosecutions.