In U.S. cities like Minneapolis and Chicago, ICE and Border Patrol agents in tactical gear have increasingly used “less lethal” weapons against protesters or bystanders during immigration enforcement actions. These include chemical irritants, kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs), disorientation devices, and electronic control weapons. While termed “less lethal,” these tools are far from harmless — they can cause pain, fear, serious injury, and in rare cases, death.
Chemical irritants such as tear gas (CS) and pepper spray (OC/PAVA) irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs, causing coughing, breathing difficulty, vomiting, disorientation, and panic. They are dispersed as sprays, pellets, or canisters and affect anyone nearby indiscriminately.
Kinetic impact projectiles, often called rubber bullets, can cause blunt or penetrating injuries. Eye strikes can result in permanent blindness, while impacts to the head, chest, abdomen, or genitalia can cause concussions, internal bleeding, or organ damage. Metal components, close-range fire, or multiple projectiles increase risk.
Flash-bang grenades produce intense noise, light, heat, and pressure. Injuries include deep burns, hearing loss, blast trauma, and, when fired at people, blunt trauma.
Electronic control devices like Tasers deliver high-voltage current via barbs, causing pain, temporary muscle loss, skin tearing, and potentially dangerous heart rhythm disturbances. New devices, including electrified shields, have appeared at protests.
Use guidelines: The UN advises force only as a last resort, proportionate to threats, avoiding head and face targeting, and minimizing harm to bystanders. In practice, adherence is uneven, and fast-moving crowds make safe use challenging.
Health effects: Exposure can cause acute pain, psychological distress, respiratory and eye damage, burns, concussions, internal injuries, and long-term disability. Deaths, though rare, have occurred from blunt trauma. Repeated or prolonged exposure can worsen outcomes.
Safety steps: Move to fresh air, rinse exposed skin and eyes with clean water, remove contaminated clothing, and seek medical care if experiencing persistent pain, vision changes, breathing issues, or chest symptoms. Children, older adults, and those with underlying conditions are at higher risk.
Even “less lethal” weapons can be extremely dangerous depending on deployment and context, emphasizing the need for strict oversight, training, and adherence to international use-of-force standards.
