Federal immigration enforcement agents deployed chemical smoke against Minneapolis residents documenting routine immigration operations, raising urgent questions about excessive force and constitutional violations of First Amendment rights. Federal Agents Deploy Chemical Weapons Against Observers U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino deployed a “pocket tactical green smoke” canister at Minneapolis residents on January 21, 2026, during immigration enforcement activities near Mueller Park in the Lowry Hill East neighborhood. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM after federal agents detained two Latino individuals near Blaisdell Avenue and West 28th Street, drawing approximately 30 protesters and observers. Bovino issued three verbal warnings before deploying the Defense Technology canister, which left visible green stains in the snow and required medical attention for affected individuals. Pattern of Aggressive Enforcement Tactics Emerges This Minneapolis deployment follows Commander Bovino’s October 23, 2025, incident in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, where he threw a gas canister at demonstrators without providing a verbal warning. That earlier action violated a judge’s temporary restraining order limiting the use of force and became central evidence in court proceedings challenging the tactics of Operation Midway Blitz. The Trump administration launched this immigration enforcement initiative in September 2025, marking a significant escalation of federal immigration enforcement. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently stayed lower court restrictions on crowd-control tactics, effectively removing judicial oversight that previously protected citizens documenting enforcement operations. Constitutional Concerns Over First Amendment Rights Federal agents confronted citizens attempting to document lawful immigration enforcement activities, raising serious First Amendment concerns about the right to observe and record government actions. Witness Yusuf Mohamed reported that agents threatened to break vehicle windows if occupants refused compliance within three seconds. Multiple protesters were tackled and arrested, while others were exposed to chemical irritants and required immediate medical treatment with water poured into their eyes. Some witnesses reported coughing and vomiting from smoke exposure. This undermines fundamental constitutional protections for citizens monitoring government operations, a cornerstone of accountability in limited government. Evidence and Documentation Raise Legal Questions The incident was extensively documented through video footage by photographer Ben Luhmann and Minnesota Star Tribune staff, providing clear visual records of federal tactics. Physical evidence includes the deployed smoke canister and a loaded rifle magazine dropped by an agent, later recovered by the Minneapolis Police Department. Federal agents used chemical irritants at two separate locations approximately one mile apart, suggesting coordinated deployment strategies. Bovino stated in a video that protest whistles and shouts “actually help our patrol efforts quite often,” while confirming Title 8 Immigration Enforcement authority. The documented pattern strengthens legal challenges to enforcement tactics, particularly given Bovino’s prior court order violation. Community Impact and Federal Overreach The confrontations occurred in south Minneapolis neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations, directly impacting residents experiencing federal enforcement in their communities. Federal agents possessed tactical advantages, including chemical weapons, firearms, and organizational authority, against largely unarmed civilians exercising constitutional rights to observe government activities. The temporary lifting of court restrictions shifted power dynamics decisively in favor of federal agents, removing judicial checks on enforcement methods. While immigration enforcement serves legitimate national security interests, deploying chemical weapons against observers documenting operations represents concerning government overreach that erodes civil liberties and community trust in federal authority. Sources: Border patrol agents use smoke canister, chemical spray on observers in Minneapolis Border Patrol commander admitted he lied about tear gas incident: Court docs Minnesota agitators stalk, pelt Border Patrol agents with food, spit at gas stations, DHS says