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.
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.