Chicago Father and Daughter Pepper-Sprayed by Immigration Agents in Parking Lot Incident

Tue Nov 11 2025 00:17:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A purported mishap during federal immigration operations leads to a local father and his young daughter being pepper-sprayed in a Chicago-area parking lot, escalating community tensions amid a crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Rafael Veraza, a Chicago-area father, reported that he and his one-year-old daughter were pepper-sprayed by a federal immigration agent while visiting a Sam's Club parking lot. The incident occurred amidst ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations that have sparked unrest within the community. Veraza stated that they were not involved in any protests, while Homeland Security officials deny the claims of crowd control measures being misused. This incident adds to the larger narrative surrounding aggressive federal immigration policies in the Chicago area, which have seen significant community backlash and legal challenges.

CHICAGO (RTWNews) — A Chicago-area father and his one-year-old daughter faced a traumatic event over the weekend when they were pepper-sprayed by federal immigration agents while preparing to shop at a Sam's Club in Cicero.

Rafael Veraza recounted how the ordeal began when they noticed signs of immigration agents in the vicinity, prompting them to leave their vehicle. Immediately after, a masked agent aimed a pepper-spray gun through the open window and fired, coating both Veraza and his daughter in the irritant.

“My daughter was trying to open her eyes,” Veraza told reporters on Sunday, noting her struggle to breathe as they sought help from bystanders. The incident has sparked outrage within the community, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding aggressive immigration enforcement tactics used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the area.

The family was not participating in any protests or attempting to disrupt law enforcement activity, Veraza stated, refuting accusations made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement denying the use of pepper spray in the incident, asserting that their personnel had not employed crowd control methods during their operation.

Local community members, including longtime pastor Rev. Matt DeMateo, were quick to condemn the reaction of federal agents. DeMateo witnessed the aftermath of the pepper-spraying and videoed the troubling scene, emphasizing that such aggression is unjustified against U.S. citizens merely shopping with their families.

In recent months, escalating Latino protests have erupted in response to a widespread crackdown on undocumented immigrants, with over 3,200 arrests reported in the Chicago area alone. Operations have included recent controversial tactics, where agents have utilized chemical agents in areas dense with community members.

DHS reported facing a hostile environment during their operations with claims of protesters throwing objects at agents, further complicating an already fragile situation in neighborhoods like Little Village, which have seen heightened tensions with immigration agents.

As the public continues to voice concerns over federal actions and the treatment of residents, the future of immigration enforcement tactics in the Chicago area remains uncertain.