Report Finds 412 Crowd-Control Misuse Incidents in US Protests, Causing 203 Injuries
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 15
Report Finds 412 Crowd-Control Misuse Incidents in US Protests, Causing 203 Injuries
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 15
Summary
412 verified incidents of alleged crowd-control weapon misuse were documented across US anti-immigration protests from June 2025 through May 2026, with researchers confirming 203 injuries and warning the real toll is likely higher.
203 injuries included blindings, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, lacerations and contusions; the report says visual verification likely missed chemical injuries, chronic pain and hearing loss.
64% of the incidents were attributed to DHS agencies such as ICE and CBP, while local and state police also featured heavily, especially in protest hotspots including Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Newark and Portland.
90% of documented misuse clustered in those regions, and researchers said incident counts rose sharply within days of federal enforcement escalations linked to former border patrol commander Gregory Bovino.
The findings add to scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics after high-profile clashes such as ICE pepper-spraying Senator Andy Kim in Newark and amid broader criticism over fatal shootings by federal immigration officers.
With dozens of children harmed by chemical weapons, will federal crowd control tactics ever change?
Who is held accountable when protests over inhumane detention conditions are met with force and retaliation?
After a top commander’s controversial tenure, what reforms can prevent future law enforcement overreach?
412 Cases, 203 Injuries: Federal Agents’ Widespread Misuse of Crowd-Control Weapons in 2025–26 Anti-Immigration Protests
Overview
A major report by Physicians for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley reveals widespread misuse of crowd-control weapons by law enforcement during anti-immigration protests in the U.S. from June 2025 to May 2026. The report verifies 412 incidents and 203 injuries, with most cases concentrated in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, and Portland. Multiple agencies, including federal, state, and local law enforcement, were involved. These findings highlight a troubling pattern of excessive force and raise serious concerns about accountability and the protection of civil rights during protests.