Immigration agents pepper spray 1-year-old girl in Cicero after DHS says shots fired at CBP agents in Little Village, father says
Saturday's clashes during federal immigration operations in Little Village came just days after a federal judge tightened the rules regulating how immigration enforcement agents are allowed to employ use of force tactics against residents and journalists during Operation Midway Blitz.
While the U.S. Department of Homeland security is once again justifying their actions, the question becomes whether the judge overseeing the preliminary injunction will agree as even her orders are now being appealed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
Cellphone video showed the moment Saturday morning Rafael Veraza says he and his family were pepper sprayed by Border Patrol agents in the parking lot of a Sam's Club in Cicero, just over the city border from Chicago's Little Village neighborhood.
"He started spraying from the front of the car towards the back. Basically I got sprayed all over my face," Veraza said.
He says the effect was immediate.
"I'm asthmatic. I've been with asthma since I was a little kid," Veraza said. "So the moment that it hit me, I couldn't breathe."
He said his 1-year-old daughter Arianna, who was riding in the back of the car, also breathed in the gas. Both were briefly hospitalized.
"My daughter was trying to open her eyes," Veraza said. "She was struggling to breathe."
Homeland Security says Border Patrol agents had entered the Sam's Parking lot shortly after deploying crowd control measures on the residents of Little Village. It happened in the aftermath of what they said were 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."
Images showing the damage were also released by DHS. However, there was no explanation as to why Veraza and his family, who had decided to abort their shopping trip after seeing the agents' presence, were pepper sprayed.
"I'm not even doing a thing," Veraza. "I'm trying to exit."
On Sunday, surrounded by elected officials and other community members, Veraza came forward with his story. He and others expressing outrage at the way in which they say agents lashed out at the entire community in the aftermath of shots allegedly being fired. With tear gas and other chemical agents that were deployed at those that had come out to protest the agents presence in Little Village.
"There were ten cars in front of me. There were neighbors all around. People were upset. All of the agents popped out of the car, guns drawn. Did not hear a single warning," said Pastor Matt DeMateo with New Life Community Church. "I thought my van was going to get hit from behind... I turned to my left. Hadn't noticed he was there. There was Bovino with the grenade. Pulls the pin. Holds it, carries it, has an interaction with neighbors and then hops into his van."
Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García called out what he calls the federal government's "campaign of terror" against Chicago, but also imploring for peace to prevail even while encouraging people to continue documenting what they see.
"I recognize the anger. I recognize how so many people feel. however if we succumb to violence we will lose our battle," Rep. García said. "If we succumb to violence our message will get lost."
Homeland Security in their statement continues to call protesters "rioters," saying that Border Patrol arrested nine people Saturday, eight of them U.S. citizens. It is unclear whether any of them have been charged.
The Department of Homeland Security released the following full statement Sunday afternoon:
"Yesterday around 9:30 AM, in the Chicago neighborhood 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 a 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-fueled 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 fueled 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 center. 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 decentralized movement known as antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
Short for "anti-fascists," antifa is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The National Lawyers Guild Chicago issued the following statement Saturday evening:
"Today, community members across Cook County monitored and protested the Trump administration's assault on migrant communities. The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild deployed Legal Observers to monitor federal and local police activity in the city and at the protest outside the Broadview Detention Center. Volunteer attorneys with the NLG were also dispatched to protect the rights of people taken into custody.
"During ICE and CBP's activity in Little Village and Cicero, agents used excessive force and chemical agents against community members. Trump's federal agents turned what would have been a quiet Saturday afternoon on the Southwest side of Chicago into a dangerous and unsafe environment due to their repeated and unnecessary escalations.
"At least nine people were taken into federal custody, and all but one of them is expected to be released this evening. The final person will be taken to court on Monday. Chicago police were deployed in response to the growing numbers of people in the street following ICE's rampage in Little Village, with CPD ultimately arresting at least four community members. NLG Chicago has confirmed that two of these people will be released, with two others being held for court hearings tomorrow. Earlier in the day, two additional people were arrested while protesting outside the Broadview Detention Center and both have been released.
"NLG Chicago will continue to support the people who remain in custody and work with partners to ensure all those detained are released as quickly as possible."
