Chicago man claims federal agents pepper-sprayed his daughter: ‘She was struggling to breathe’

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A video from Little Village shows the aftermath of a federal immigration operation involving Rafael Veraza and his 1-year-old daughter, Arianna. Captured on Sunday, November 9, the footage shows them rubbing their eyes after the incident.

Veraza said pepper spray was used, though the video does not show agents deploying it. He described how the spray affected him and his family while they were inside their car. “He started spraying from the front of the car toward the back,” Veraza said. “My entire face was covered.”

“The moment it reached me, I couldn’t breathe,” Veraza added. Arianna, strapped in her car seat behind him, also inhaled the chemicals. “My daughter kept trying to open her eyes. She could barely breathe.” Both were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

The incident comes just days after a federal judge tightened rules governing the use of force by immigration officers. 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the officers acted appropriately and did not deploy pepper spray in the area. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “No. There was no crowd control or pepper spray deployed in a Sam’s Club parking lot. Over the weekend in Chicago, law enforcement was shot at, bricks were thrown at them, and vehicles attempted to ram agents.”

DHS stated that Border Patrol agents only entered the parking lot after using crowd-control tools earlier in Little Village. Officials claimed the violence, including gunfire from a black Jeep Wrangler, originated from the crowd. 

DHS warns of escalating threats in Chicago

DHS portrayed the situation as a serious threat to federal law enforcement. The agency said Border Patrol was “accosted by a hostile crowd” and later targeted by a gunman who “fired multiple rounds” from a black Jeep Wrangler.

Officials described bricks, paint cans, and multiple vehicles attempting to ram agents. McLaughlin called the violence “unprecedented” and accused “sanctuary politicians and the media” of fueling it. She warned, “To any Antifa terrorist in Chicago: You will not stop us.” Nine people were arrested.

DHS concluded, “Make no mistake: Our mission will continue despite the violence. You will not slow us down. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will face the consequences.”