At Least 79 Kids Have Been Harmed by Tear Gas or Pepper Spray During Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

ProPublica reports that at least 79 children have been exposed to tear gas or pepper spray deployed by federal immigration agents during Trump's immigration crackdown across multiple cities including Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland, and Columbus. The article documents specific incidents with verified victim interviews, body camera footage, court filings, and sworn testimony — including cases where children as young as 6 months old were exposed, with some experiencing respiratory distress, hives, and lasting coughing fits. ProPublica's count is nearly four times higher than a recent congressional tally, and the reporting identifies that tear gas traveled significant distances (at least a quarter mile in one case), entered homes and schools unintentionally, and affected children walking to school or sitting in parked cars. The Department of Homeland Security disputes responsibility, attributing harm to "agitators" and parents rather than officer conduct, while multiple federal judges have ruled that ICE and CBP officers used excessive force with "deliberate indifference" to risks — though court injunctions covered only specific jurisdictions, leaving other communities unprotected. Watch for potential national-level policy changes or investigations into DHS use-of-force training and oversight, particularly given former DHS Inspector General John Roth's characterization of ProPublica's findings as a "bright red flag" warranting serious review.