Kids Are Being Harmed by Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Under Trump. There Could Be Long-Term Consequences. In several cities, judges have chastised federal immigration officers, saying they used excessive force. One former DHS leader called ProPublica’s findings a “bright red flag.” by Lisa Song, Maya Miller and Melissa Sanchez, with research reporting by Mariam Elba

Kids Are Being Harmed by Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Under Trump. There Could Be Long-Term Consequences. In several cities, judges have chastised federal immigration officers, saying they used excessive force. One former DHS leader called ProPublica’s findings a “bright red flag.” by Lisa Song, Maya Miller and Melissa Sanchez, with research reporting by Mariam Elba https://www.propublica.org/article/kids-tear-gas-trump-immigration-crackdown?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=secondary Reporting Highlights Harming Children: Kids were in cars, at home and walking to school when tear gas or pepper spray left them wheezing, coughing and struggling to breathe. The weapons are especially toxic to kids. Excessive Force: Judges described the use of these “less lethal” weapons as excessive but had no power to curb them nationwide. Kids in other communities continued to get hurt. No Uniform Standards: DHS policies on the weapons are less strict than those of some local police departments. The agency’s inspectors general found officers have historically been undertrained. On Jan. 31, families protested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon. Protesters said officers used tear gas and pepper spray, leaving them coughing and struggling to breathe. ProPublica identified at least 79 children across the country who were harmed by tear gas or pepper spray as immigration officers increased use of the weapons during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. There is no national standard that governs how law enforcement agencies use tear gas or pepper spray, allowing Department of Homeland Security officers to deploy chemical agents more freely in some cities than local police departments. Judges described the use of these “less lethal” weapons as excessive but had no power to curb them nationwide. DHS defended its use of the chemicals, asserting its agents aren’t to blame. The fault, a spokesperson said, lies with “agitators” in the crowds and parents who put their children in harm’s way. The agency spokesperson said the officers were justified in using tear gas or pepper spray, but the agency did not address how the weapons affected bystanders, including children. “DHS does NOT target children,” the agency said in a written statement. We spoke with two brothers, ages 11 and 15, who attended the Jan. 31 protest and described being tear-gassed. Their family asked that we not use the children’s names to protect their privacy. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E11GIGKpEdg