Tear gas and pepper spray used during immigration raids in the US have been found to affect not only protesters but also children. These chemicals, deployed by federal agents to disperse crowds, caused symptoms such as eye irritation, shortness of breath, vomiting, and coughing lasting for weeks in some children.
According to the investigation, since 2025, 79 children in the country have been harmed by these substances. This number is nearly four times higher than the figure reported in a recent Congressional report, though it is believed that even this does not fully reflect the reality.
Children affected at home, in vehicles, and on the way to school
Among the documented cases, there are instances where children were not directly in the middle of the incidents. Some children were exposed to the gas cloud inside their vehicles, some at home, and others while walking to school.
The Department of Homeland Security argued that agents did not use these chemicals targeting children. The department also accused "agitators" within crowds and families of endangering children.
However, reviewed news reports, lawsuits, and footage from body cameras revealed numerous incidents where children were harmed. The investigation also relied on interviews with more than 40 victims or eyewitnesses.
Why these chemicals are more dangerous for children
Tear gas is not a single substance; it is a general term for various chemical irritants. These substances create a burning sensation on nerve endings, irritate the lungs and throat, constrict airways, and make breathing feel like sucking through a straw.
Because children breathe faster, they inhale more polluted air relative to their body weight. Their narrower airways can also cause more severe effects. The fact that the gas accumulates closer to the ground increases the risk for children.
Pepper spray is made from components found in hot peppers and produces similar effects. Skin rashes, coughing, vomiting, and breathing difficulties are among the observed effects of these substances.
Courts ruled on excessive use of force
In November 2025, a federal judge in Illinois ruled that ICE and CBP officers used these chemicals "without justification and often without warning." The ruling stated that using them against individuals who did not pose a physical threat was unlawful and excessive force.
The judge ordered the practice to stop, but the ruling only applied to the areas named in the case. Thus, agents continued to use these tools elsewhere.
In Portland, after a protest on January 31, federal forces reportedly used Triple Chaser-type grenades, chemical-loaded pepper ball rounds, and other munitions that disperse painful particles on the crowd. Following this, a court issued a temporary injunction banning the use of chemical munitions unless there was a close and clear physical threat.
However, appellate courts later overturned the Illinois ruling and some of the restrictions in Portland, significantly weakening judicial limits on federal officers' use of these weapons.
Gas effects reached neighborhoods and inside homes
Tear gas is difficult to control. Fired canisters can bounce unpredictably within crowds, and chemicals can be carried by air blocks away.
In Minneapolis, it was found that the gas traveled at least a quarter of a mile, reaching a McDonald's. Derrick Nash and his family, living one and a half blocks from an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, reported that the gas seeped inside their home.
Nash's children, aged 6 to 17, coughed and had burning throats whenever the gas entered their house. The oldest child, who has asthma, retreated to his room on the second floor; one evening his face flushed, he coughed uncontrollably, and despite using his inhaler, he did not find relief.
Nash recounted that his son said he could not breathe. The family considered calling an ambulance, but the street closure made it difficult.
No unified federal standards
Rules regarding the use of tear gas and pepper spray vary widely. There is no uniform federal standard.
The DHS use-of-force policy states that officers must "minimize the risk of unintended injury" and respect "human life." CBP policy prohibits the use of pepper spray or other chemical munitions against "small children." ICE policy considers the surrounding people, suspects, and bystanders when evaluating the reasonableness of force.
Rules in cities like Portland and Minneapolis are more restrictive. Portland considers proximity to residences when using gas, while Minneapolis requires police chief approval before using chemical munitions for crowd control.
Experts say it is important to establish common training and standards for all law enforcement agencies. They believe Congress should pass a law imposing stricter regulations on federal law enforcement and encourage local police departments to adopt similar rules.
Proposals to strengthen comprehensive training and use-of-force regulations, as well as bills targeting the Department of Homeland Security's use of these weapons, have not yet come to a vote. Following the investigation, some US lawmakers have begun calling for reforms in immigration officers' use of these tools.
