TELL CONGRESS: Masked ICE gangs and other federal agents are unleashing tear gas on protesters in Chicago and Portland. Trump's forces are brutalizing communities, activists, and local elected officials — often with the violent, excessive use of tear gas. Sign the petition: Ban tear gas now!

Federal agents fired so much tear gas at activists and elected officials outside an ICE facility in suburban Illinois that people in the surrounding community reported struggling to breathe when they went outside.1

Trump’s forces met the protest against ICE in Broadview, IL with violence and tear gas, spraying the crowd that included a local mayor.2 The White House’s gangs in Portland are also using tear gas with abandon against protesters — spraying people exercising their First Amendment rights with a chemical weapon.3 Short-term, tear gas causes intense pain and trouble breathing, while long-term effects include chemical burns, blindness, and even respiratory failure.4

Tear gas is a chemical weapon banned for use in warfare by international treaties.5 But it’s still legal for domestic use by law enforcement against people on the streets of America. Congress must change that NOW.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to ban tear gas! Stop Trump’s forces from using tear gas on protesters immediately.

The White House has painted cities like Chicago and Portland as criminal-ridden war zones that require federal invasion. This is right-wing propaganda meant to fuel Trump’s armed takeover.

Governor J.B. Pritzker said Trump’s armed agents are the ones creating violent chaos in Chicago. “They fire tear gas and smoke grenades, and they make it look like it’s a war zone,” he said.6

Police, federal agents, and ICE have been permitted to spray protesters with tear gas for far too long. At this dangerous point in the fight for democracy, Congress must ban tear gas.

Sign the petition: Stop Trump’s takeover — don’t let law enforcement silence activists with tear gas!

Thanks for taking action,

Joey and the Demand Progress team

Sources:

  1. Mother Jones, "ICE Is Hounding Chicago Area Locals With Excessive Chemical Munitions,” October 8, 2025.
  2. CNN, "Chicago-area mayor says federal agents teargassed him at a protest outside an ICE facility,” September 20, 2025.
  3. OPB, "Portland’s weekend of ICE protests: Tear gas, National Guard restraining orders and false claims of a city burning to the ground,” October 6, 2025.
  4. Medical News Today, "Effects of tear gas on the body,” July 31, 2020.
  5. CNN, "The military is banned from using tear gas on the battlefield, but police can use it on crowds at home. Here’s why,” June 8, 2020.
  6. NBC Chicago, "Helicopters, tear gas, blown doors: A look at recent scenes in Chicago,” October 6, 2025.

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