A shocking viral video from a Cicero, Illinois Sam’s Club parking lot appears to show a federal agent deploying pepper spray into a civilian car, directly impacting a one-year old girl named Arinna, Veraza and her father Rafael Veraza.
This incident which occurred during the controversial Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” has ignited a firestorm of criticism over the tactics employed by federal Law Enforcement agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) U.S. Border Patrol.
The Incident: What the Viral Video Appears to Show
The footage, which has been widely shared across social media platforms like X, centers on the family car of Rafael Veraza.Veraza told reporters that he and his family who were simply leaving the Sam’s Club parking lot after seeing a large federal presence, were not protesters. With his window down, he alleges a Federal Agent fired the chemical agent directly into the vehicle.
• The Victim’s Account: Rafael Veraza, who suffers from asthma, immediately struggled to breathe and clear his eyes. He said his young child, Arinna, was crying and “struggling to breathe,” highlighting the immediate danger of targeting kids with such chemicals. Veraza required a hospital visit following the exposure.
• The Government’s Response: DHS (Department of Homeland Security), which oversees ICE, has flatly denied the family’s account. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated on X that “No… was no crowd control or pepper spray deployed in a Sam’s Club parking lot.”DHS released statement claiming their agents had been stalked and followed into lot after series of violent attacks on their convoy in nearby Little Village where they faced gunshots, thrown bricks and vehicle rammings
.This similar contradiction between the emotional viral video and the official DHS statement is at the heart of the national controversy
Political Context: Operation Midway Blitz and Sanctuary Policies
The Cicero incident is directly tied to the highly aggressive Immigration Crackdown launched by the Trump Administration. The stated goal of “Operation Midway Blitz” was to “target the criminal illegal aliens” allegedly protected by sanctuary policies in Illinois
.Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been an outspoken critic, stating the operation is not about public safety but is designed to create chaos and fear among Illinoisians. This executive versus federal tension has consistently defined the debate around Mass Deportation and aggressive enforcement
.Governor.Pritzker: “Instead of taking steps to work with us on public safety, the Trump Administration’s focused on scaring Illinoisians.”
Why This Matters: Accountability and Use of Force
The severity of using a crowd-control chemical on a civilian family, especially one with a toddler inside, raises critical questions about Legal & Tactics and federal accountability
.Adding to the tension, the incident occurred shortly after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction restricting federal agents from using chemical spray, tear gas, or other less-lethal weapons “unless such force is necessary to stop the immediate threat of physical harm.”
The DHS narrative emphasizes the violent mobs and violent attacks faced by their Federal Agents leading up to the Sam’s Club confrontation, suggesting a need for self-defense actions. Critics, however, argue that the pepper spraying of an uninvolved shopping family demonstrates an indiscriminate and dangerous escalation of force.
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FAQ
Were the Veraza family involved in the protests?
Rafael Veraza stated the family was not protesting and was simply leaving the Sam’s Club after hearing helicopters and horns, which are now common warning signs of federal activity in the Chicago area.
What was the official DHS explanation?
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied the use of pepper spray in the parking lot. The agency stated agents were there after their Convoy was allegedly stalked and attacked by individuals following earlier incidents involving gunfire, bricks, and paint cans in Little Village.
What were immediate effects on the child?
A Rafael Veraza reported that his one year old daughter Arinna was in distress struggling to breathe open her eyes due to the chemical exposure.
Disclaimer:
This article reports on viral video and conflicting accounts regarding an incident in Cicero, Illinois, involving an ICE agent and a family in a car. The family alleges a federal agent deployed pepper spray, affecting a toddler.