Six Children Hospitalized After ICE Tear Gas Canister Strikes Family Vehicle in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Emergency responders and community members reported a distressing incident during ongoing federal immigration enforcement activity in south Minneapolis, involving the use of tear gas and other crowd-control tactics by federal agents that resulted in injuries to several civilians, including children.
According to local witnesses and media reports, tensions remained high in the surrounding neighborhood following a federal law enforcement operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier in the week.
In one reported episode, residents attempting to leave an area where tear gas was being deployed sought to escape the effects of chemical agents by entering a nearby vehicle.
As tear gas canisters spread through surrounding streets, a family with multiple children, including infants and young minors, sheltered inside their car in an effort to avoid further exposure.
Witnesses said a tear gas canister landed under or near the vehicle, releasing gas that caused irritation and breathing difficulties for those inside.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and several family members, including children, were transported by ambulance to a hospital for medical evaluation after experiencing breathing problems.
One infant was reported to have suffered breathing distress and required emergency medical attention.
Bystanders stated that parents attempted first aid at the scene, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a young child, prior to the arrival of paramedics.
Accounts from witnesses described the situation as chaotic but nonviolent, noting that civilians were attempting to leave the area as federal agents deployed tear gas and other less-lethal munitions.
Witnesses also reported that there was no active threat toward officers at the time the gas was released near the family vehicle.
Authorities have not issued an official statement confirming the specific details of the incident or whether the vehicle was intentionally targeted.
The Minneapolis Police Department and federal agencies involved have not publicly corroborated all aspects of the civilian accounts, and the incident remains under review.
Officials continue to investigate multiple related events connected to recent federal enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Local health officials and emergency responders are urging anyone affected by tear gas exposure to seek medical care.
Community leaders have called for a thorough and transparent review of federal crowd-control tactics, particularly regarding their impact on children and other vulnerable bystanders.
