A Minneapolis family, including a six-month-old infant, required hospital treatment after a federal immigration officer rolled a tear gas canister under their SUV, flooding the vehicle with toxic fumes. The incident occurred on Saturday 17 January 2026, as the Jackson family found themselves inadvertently caught between protesters and officers during what has been described as the largest federal operation initiated by the Trump administration in the Twin Cities.
A Routine Journey Turns into a Nightmare
Destiny Jackson, 26, was driving her family home from her middle-school child's basketball game when their route through north Minneapolis was blocked. The area was tense following an incident where a federal officer had shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest.
Initially perceiving a relatively calm scene, Ms Jackson stopped and spent up to 30 minutes trying to persuade her mother, who was on the street, to leave for safety. "I was just trying to get her to go home," Ms Jackson stated. "I've only seen these things on TV. Some end well, some don't."
The Escalation and Attack
The situation deteriorated rapidly. Flash-bang grenades echoed nearby, and smoke began to fill the air. As protesters gathered around their vehicle, the family attempted to depart and were instructed to leave by federal officers.
Mindful of the recent case where an officer shot and killed Renee Good while she was in her vehicle, the Jacksons waited for officers to pass, believing it was their chance to escape. Instead, an officer deployed a tear gas canister directly under their SUV.
"I heard a boom and the car's airbags deployed," Jackson recounted. The noxious gas quickly filled the cabin. "My kids were crying and screaming that they couldn't breathe." In a panic, she unlocked the doors to evacuate. She found her six-month-old son unresponsive, with his eyes closed.
Aftermath and Official Response
First responders rushed to reports of an infant in respiratory distress, navigating through crowds to reach the scene. The fire department confirmed the baby was breathing and stable but in a serious condition prior to hospital transfer.
In total, Destiny Jackson, her husband, and three of their six children—the infant, a 7-year-old, and an 11-year-old—received hospital treatment.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, asserted that officers were responding to "rioters and agitators" and did not deliberately target the Jackson family or "their innocent children."
Since sharing her story online, Jackson reported receiving frightening threats and hateful messages. "I try not to pay attention to the negative. I know what was going on. I know what my intentions were," she said. "I was on my way home."
