412 protest incidents documented: ICE and police deploy crowd-control weapons, causing blindings and brain injuries
Jul 14, 2026·Location: United States
Country of origin: United States

Physicians for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley documented 412 incidents of crowd-control weapon misuse against demonstrators protesting immigration enforcement between June 2025 and May 2026 across 16 cities in 13 states. DHS agents were responsible for 265 incidents (64%), with state and local agencies responsible for 123 (30%). The victims included 209 demonstrators, 177 journalists, 12 minors, 7 bystanders, and 4 healthcare workers or legal observers. The report documented 203 injuries overall, including blindings, traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, fractures and contusions, with researchers noting the true number is likely far greater because invisible injuries like chemical damage, chronic pain and hearing loss are difficult to assess. The report found 86% of incidents occurred during four named DHS operations: At Large (Los Angeles), Midway Blitz (Chicago), Black Rose (Portland), and Metro Surge (Minneapolis), with additional incidents documented at protests outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where ICE officials pepper sprayed New Jersey Senator Andy Kim during a demonstration, a moment that helped intensify ongoing protests at the site that were later met with batons, shields, teargas and dozens of arrests.
Timeline
Sources
- ‘Misuse’ of crowd-control weapons on ICE protesters led to blindings and traumatic brain injuries, report finds
The Guardian·Jul 14, 2026·archived copy
- The Hill
- Charting the Crackdown
- ‘Misuse’ Of Crowd Control Weapons On ICE Protesters Led To Blindings
scheerpost.com·Jul 17, 2026
- ‘Misuse’ of Crowd Control Weapons on ICE Protesters Led to Blindings and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Report Finds
portside.org·Jul 14, 2026
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