PORTLAND, OREGON — Federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement deployed chemical irritants to disperse crowds during immigration enforcement protests in Portland, Oregon, on January 31. The Department of Homeland Security stated that its agencies do not target children during crowd control operations. Documentation of public records, litigation, and victim interviews recorded 79 instances of children experiencing harm from chemical deployments by federal officers since 2025.
The deployments of chemical irritants contradict the Department of Homeland Security's claim. Federal agents deployed Triple Chaser grenades, pepper ball projectiles, and rubber ball grenades on January 31 in Portland. A federal judge in Illinois ruled in November 2025 that immigration officers had deployed chemical agents without justification against individuals who did not pose a physical threat. However, a federal appellate court later reversed this ruling that restricted chemical deployments.
These chemical irritants cause eye irritation, breathing difficulty, nausea, and vomiting by stimulating nerve endings to produce intense burning sensations. Contact with chemical agents can also lead to airway inflammation, gastrointestinal distress, dermatological reactions, and persistent respiratory symptoms. Pediatric respiratory rates are higher relative to body mass than adult rates, resulting in increased intake of airborne contaminants. Children also have narrower respiratory passages and maintain a lower physical posture where heavier chemical vapors concentrate.
Incidents have been documented where minors were exposed to chemical agents inside vehicles, within private residences, and while traveling to educational institutions. In one instance, airborne chemicals penetrated the residence of Derrick Nash, who lives approximately one and one-half blocks from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. This exposed four minors in his home to the compounds, including a teenager with a diagnosed respiratory condition who required medication following the exposure. Nash said of the teenager, "He was wigging out, saying, 'I can't breathe.'"
The Department of Homeland Security attributed incidents involving minors to unauthorized crowd agitators and parental supervision choices. Although federal statutes do not establish a standardized regulatory framework for law enforcement tear gas deployment, Department of Homeland Security guidelines direct personnel to utilize tactics that reduce the probability of unintended physical harm. U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines advise personnel against deploying chemical munitions upon small children. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement guidelines classify bystander presence as a consideration in use-of-force assessments.
No independent assessment was available for this report.