Widespread Misuse of Crowd-Control Weapons in U.S. Immigration Protests

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the University of California, Berkeley’s Human Rights Center released a report documenting 412 verified incidents of “misuse” of less-lethal crowd-control weapons from June 2025 through May 2026. The study defines misuse by examining attacks on protected categories (journalists, health workers), vulnerable populations (elderly, children), and violations of manufacturers’ guidelines such as close-range firing or targeting the head. Over half of the incidents (64 %) involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection, while state and local police contributed to many others. The report also links a sharp rise in incidents to the enforcement surge directed by former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino, whose hard-line tactics coincided with spikes in documented misuse.

The Guardian

The investigation recorded 203 injuries, ranging from blindings and traumatic brain injuries to lacerations, fractures and contusions. Researchers note that invisible injuries—chemical exposure, chronic pain, hearing loss—are likely under-counted. A prior ProPublica analysis identified 70 children harmed by teargas or pepper spray nationwide. Geographically, more than 90 % of the misuse incidents occurred in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Newark and Portland, where mass protests have persisted since June 2025.

The Guardian

PHR issued a statement emphasizing that “in each city where there were federal directions to escalate enforcement, incident counts rose sharply within days.” The organization also highlighted that “much of this was coincident with the arrival of Greg Bovino.” DHS declined to comment before publication. Critics argue that the combined involvement of federal, state and local authorities amplifies the risk of excessive force, especially when officials operate atop existing DHS actions.

The Guardian

• “This is a concerning story,” — Dr Rohini Haar, PHR medical expert

The Guardian

• “Those weapons can cause harm,” — Dr Rohini Haar, PHR medical expert

The Guardian

• “In each city where there were federal directions to escalate enforcement, incident counts rose sharply within days,” — PHR statement

The Guardian

• “Much of this was coincident with the arrival of Greg Bovino.” — PHR statement

The Guardian

The report acknowledges that visual investigative techniques cannot fully assess invisible injuries, suggesting the true injury count is higher than documented. DHS’s lack of response leaves official accountability unclear, and the extent of local law-enforcement participation varies across jurisdictions, creating gaps in a comprehensive national picture.

The Guardian