A 6-month-old infant and several siblings were hospitalized this week after a tear gas canister was deployed near and under the family’s SUV during a clash between federal officers and protesters in north Minneapolis, authorities and the children’s parents said.
The Jackson family — Destiny and Shawn Jackson and their six children, ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years — were driving home Wednesday after a middle school basketball game when they encountered blocked streets and what appeared to be a protest near 23rd Avenue North, the parents said. They were unaware demonstrations were taking place.
The family’s account echoes that of other local families caught up in unrest following an immigration-enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city that has drawn sharp public scrutiny and intensified protests.
Chaos Near Demonstration
Destiny Jackson, 26, told CNN that her family stopped when they saw people standing in the street and she recognized her mother nearby, spending about 20–30 minutes urging her to move back to the car. But as the situation escalated, she said she heard flash-bang grenades and saw smoke in the air.
She said federal agents told the family to leave the area, but as they tried to navigate past officers, a tear gas canister was rolled under their vehicle and detonated. The blast set off the SUV’s airbags and locked the doors, trapping the family inside as toxic fumes filled the car, she said.
Jackson said her children began screaming that they couldn’t breathe. She and her husband worked to unlock the doors and get the children out, with help from bystanders.
Infant Revived With CPR
When bystanders and family members got the children to safety, officials were called to the scene. The Jacksons said their infant son had stopped breathing, and a family member performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
The Minneapolis Fire Department confirmed it responded to a call about a medical emergency near 9:20 p.m. Wednesday. Initial reports indicated a 6-month-old infant was experiencing breathing difficulties after exposure to tear gas and was taken to a hospital in serious condition, officials said.
Three of the children, including the infant, a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old, were treated at a hospital, the family said. Two of the children also have asthma, the parents told news outlets.
Federal Response and Context
The incident occurred amid an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that has seen the deployment of several thousand federal agents, including ICE and Border Patrol officers, to crack down on what the Department of Homeland Security has described as widespread immigration and fraud activity.
The Jacksons say they were not part of any protest and were simply trying to get home when they became caught in the crossfire. They have described the episode as frightening and dangerous for their children.
In a statement to CNN, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said federal agents were responding to crowds described as “rioters and agitators” and did not target the family.
Since sharing her family’s ordeal online, Destiny Jackson said she has received threats and hateful messages, but she said she is focusing on her children’s recovery and telling their story.
Broader Concerns Over Enforcement Tactics
The Minneapolis operation has been widely covered and criticized, especially after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in early January, which sparked protests and heightened tensions between community members and federal law enforcement. Critics say the scale and tactics of the enforcement raise concerns about civil liberties and the safety of residents not involved in protests or immigration violations.
Department of Homeland Security officials have defended the deployment, saying agents follow training and are responding to violent actions by some demonstrators.
