Minneapolis Family Suffers After Tear Gas Incident Amid Immigration Protests

Sat Jan 17 2026 23:03:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A family's harrowing experience as they got caught in the chaos of immigration protests highlights the dangers of government crackdowns.

The Jackson family in Minneapolis found themselves trapped in the midst of protests when a federal officer rolled a tear gas canister under their vehicle, prompting a critical health emergency for several of their children, including an infant. Responding to the escalating situation, authorities maintain that the family was not targeted, despite the traumatic consequences. The incident has drawn significant concern and backlash related to law enforcement's use of force during immigration crackdowns.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Jackson family, while returning home from a basketball game, found themselves caught in a protest where federal officers were escalating tensions by deploying tear gas. As they navigated their family SUV, an officer rolled a tear gas canister beneath their vehicle, leading to a horrifying ordeal that left them and three of their six children, including a 6-month-old infant, requiring hospitalization for exposure to the toxic fumes.

Destiny Jackson, 26, recalled the tension as they approached a blocked street in north Minneapolis. Initially, it seemed like a peaceful demonstration, but as the chaos intensified with the presence of federal officers, the family felt the need to intervene and persuade a relative to leave the area.

The situation rapidly deteriorated. Jackson heard explosions from flash-bang grenades nearby and reported that the air was filled with smoke. As they attempted to leave the area, an officer commanded them to exit, but before they could, the canister was deployed.

After the canister exploded, Jackson exclaimed that the vehicle was filled with gas, choking her children who were crying and gasping for air. Panic set in as she discovered her infant son was unresponsive. First responders quickly arrived and tended to the family; the infant was reported to be in serious condition but stabilized before being transported to the hospital.

Jackson, her husband, and three of their children received medical attention, grappling with the aftermath of this traumatic event. A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security claimed the officers did not target the family specifically, framing the incident amidst the larger context of addressing perceived “rioters and agitators.”

In the wake of sharing her family's traumatic experience online, Jackson has faced a backlash of threats and hate messages, yet she remains resilient and focused on her family’s intentions during the incident. “I was just trying to get her to go home… I know what my intentions were,” she stated, emphasizing the shocking nature of being caught in a situation that they had only witnessed on television.