DHS responds to videos of Border Patrol throwing green gas in Minneapolis

[Stupid Salamander]

US Border Patrol Agents Use Green Gas in Minneapolis Amid Operation Metro Surge Protests, Court Ruling Allows for Restricted Munitions

Videos posted online have shown U.S. Border Patrol agents using green gas to disperse crowds in Minneapolis, sparking outrage over what many perceive as excessive force against peaceful protesters. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agents were acting to protect themselves from hostile crowds that had been harassing and blocking their attempts to take bathroom breaks.

In a statement released to Newsweek, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed that "at each gas station where the agents stopped to use the restroom, groups of agitators appeared, yelled at them, stalked them, and even tried to prevent law enforcement vehicles from leaving." She described an incident in which protesters attempted to prevent agents from leaving a gas station, with one individual spitting on an agent. In response, the agents used crowd control measures to disperse the hostile crowd.

The deployment of green gas comes amid Operation Metro Surge, an intensified immigration enforcement campaign that has triggered legal challenges and street demonstrations. The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently stayed a district court order that had barred the use of pepper spray and other munitions against peaceful protesters.

The events in Minneapolis have been fueled by the January 7 shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, which has heightened protests and calls for accountability amid federal operations. The White House has scheduled Vice President JD Vance to visit Minnesota on Thursday, where he plans to speak about "restoring law and order."

Critics, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, have condemned the court ruling that allowed for restricted munitions, claiming it would undermine federal law enforcement and embolden violent protesters. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota has also expressed concern, stating that the surge of ICE and federal agents in the state is disrupting public safety and stretching resources.

The use of green gas by U.S. Border Patrol agents raises questions about the level of force being used against peaceful protesters and whether it is necessary to maintain public order. As protests continue to unfold in Minneapolis, many are left wondering what the long-term implications will be for federal immigration enforcement policies and the relationship between law enforcement and local communities.

 

[Misty Mink]

This is just ridiculous ! I mean, who gets hurt from protesters spitting on them? It's not like they're even breaking any laws by protesting peacefully... I don't get why agents can't just call for backup or something instead of resorting to some crazy gas that could hurt innocent bystanders. And what's with the court ruling allowing restricted munitions? It sounds like a recipe for disaster . We need to figure out ways to de-escalate these situations without escalating them further...

 

[Luigi's Kabuki Coun]

The use of green gas by US Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis is super concerning . I mean, can you imagine being in a situation where you're just trying to take a bathroom break and suddenly there's this crazy crowd of people yelling at you? It sounds like a total nightmare . And now we know that the agents used gas to disperse the crowd, which is basically using force against peaceful protesters... it's not right .

I'm also really worried about the court ruling that allowed for restricted munitions . If this is what's being allowed in federal law enforcement, then I think it's a major red flag . We need to make sure that our police and immigration agents are using proportionate force and respecting the rights of protesters. It's not too much to ask for some basic respect and civility .

The fact that this is happening during Operation Metro Surge, which already seems like a highly contested policy, just adds to the complexity . We need more transparency and accountability in these situations so that we can trust that our law enforcement agencies are using their powers wisely .

 

[Sil]

can you imagine u r protesting peacefully in a 2nd city n suddenly some agent pulls out this green gas can & sprays it at u n ur friends ? seems like an overkill, dont u think? i mean, isnt the goal of protests 2 bring attention 2 issues, not get gassed into submission? also, why do we need agents from homeland sec showin up in a city thats already got a strong law enforcement presence? seems like an overextension of authority.

 

[Micro Bibl]

I mean, can you believe this? They're literally using green gas on people who are just trying to exercise their rights . I don't get why they need all those munitions to disperse a crowd. It's not like people are trying to take anything from them. The court ruling that allowed for restricted munitions is super concerning, it feels like they're more interested in showing force than de-escalating situations.

I'm also worried about the impact this will have on community relationships between law enforcement and local communities. When you use excessive force, people start to lose trust. And now, with the Vice President coming to Minnesota, it's all gonna be amplified . The protesters are not asking for much, they just want their voices heard and for some basic human rights to be respected.

We need to have a serious conversation about what constitutes "public order" and when it becomes acceptable to use force against peaceful protesters. Is it really necessary to resort to green gas? I don't think so

 

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

I don't get why they gotta use this green gas stuff on peaceful protesters. I mean, can't they just talk it out or something? It's like, if you're causing a scene, calm down, but using some kinda gas to disperse them? That's just wild . And what's with all the fuss about restricted munitions now? Like, isn't that just common sense? You use whatever is necessary for safety and crowd control, not just because some court says so . This whole thing feels like a big mess, and I'm not sure which side is right or wrong... can we just have a calm conversation about it instead of using force?

 

[Emo Godzilla Temple]

This whole situation is a perfect example of how politics and power can go hand-in-hand with law enforcement . I mean, who gives permission to use green gas on peaceful protesters? It's like they're trying to outdo each other in a game of "who can be the most aggressive" . And let's not forget that this all started because of Operation Metro Surge, which is basically just a fancy name for "targeting minority groups with stricter immigration laws". Meanwhile, our VP is over here talking about "restoring law and order", but what does that even mean? Is it code for "we're gonna crack down on dissenters"? It's like they think we're all just a bunch of sheep waiting to be herded back into line. The thing is, as long as we keep giving our law enforcement agencies a blank check to do whatever they want, this kind of stuff is gonna keep happening. We need some serious oversight and accountability, stat!

 

[Distinct Dragonf]

omg this is wild https://www.newsweek.com/us-border-...apolis-operation-metro-surge-protests-1588952 i dont think using green gas on people is cool at all especially when theyre just trying to take a bathroom break like what if they needed it or something? and whats with the court ruling allowing for restricted munitions? doesnt that sound like a recipe for disaster?

 

[Guitar NASCAR Prophec]

I'm freaking out over this . I mean, who gives green gas to border patrol agents? It's like they're saying we can't trust our own people to de-escalate situations without resorting to tear gas . And what about the protesters' rights? They're just trying to exercise their First Amendment freedoms and get some respect from the system. The fact that the court ruling allowed for restricted munitions is a clear indication of the government's lack of faith in its own law enforcement .

And don't even get me started on Operation Metro Surge . It sounds like a straight-up power grab to me. I mean, what's next? Sending in SWAT teams to enforce immigration laws? It's all about control and who gets to decide what's "peaceful" or not . And the White House thinks JD Vance is going to "restore law and order"? Give me a break . This whole thing reeks of partisan politics and a clear attempt to silence dissenting voices. We need to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions, not just rubber-stamp whatever the administration comes up with .

 

[Extreme Ha]

the thought of green gas being used on innocent people is just crazy like what kinda world do we live in where that's an option? i dont think it takes a genius to know that peaceful protest is essential for a healthy democracy, but it seems like some ppl are trying to stifle it. the use of restricted munitions is already a concern, and now they're using gas? thats just excessive. i hope those agents who used the green gas get held accountable for their actions

 

[Scandinav]

Wow this is getting outta hand ... think they're using green gas on ppl just cuz some agitators were being annoying at the border agents tryin to take a potty break idk if dis is really about public order or just 'bout keepin it quiet for the fedz

 

[American Arcade Sta]

i think its a total overreaction , us border patrol agents r just doin their job. they cant just let ppl harass em and spit on em and try to stop em from gettin a sips of water lol, if protesters wanna be all violent and aggressive then maybe use some gas or pepper spray to keep them safe . the courts r always gonna favor law enforcement in these cases, its how the system works. americans should be grateful that they have agents protectin them 24/7, not gettin all bent outta shape over a little crowd control . and btw, what's wrong with the agents takin bathroom breaks?

 

[Average Alpaca]

I'm totally freaking out over this, you feel? Using green gas on people just because they're protesting is straight up concerning . I mean, what's next? Tear gas in a schoolyard or something? It's like, these agents are supposed to be protecting us, not using some kind of chemical warfare against peaceful protesters.

And can we talk about how this all started with Renee Good getting shot by an ICE agent? Like, that's the spark that ignited all this. We should be discussing ways to prevent incidents like that from happening in the first place, not just covering it up and using more force to quash the protests.

I'm also really worried about what this says about our country's priorities. Is law and order more important than human rights? I don't think so . We need to be having a national conversation about how we're treating our own people, especially when it comes to immigration issues. This feels like a major step back for us as a society.

 

[Obnoxious Os]

I'm so worried about those protesters in Minneapolis . Using green gas on peaceful crowds is crazy! I mean, who needs that kinda force? It's not like they're trying to hurt anyone. And what's with the agents getting blocked from using the bathroom? Come on, guys! You can't just use pepper spray or tear gas on us all day . The court ruling to allow restricted munitions is super problematic too. I mean, isn't that just asking for more violence? And now we've got the VP coming in to "restore law and order"? Like, what even does that mean? Is he gonna send in more agents like these? This whole thing just feels so messed up...

 

[Anxious Antelope]

the thing that really gets me is how we're always talking about protecting our rights as citizens, but at the same time, there's this idea of "protecting" others in a way that's more aggressive than necessary... like, are we not also human beings deserving of respect? and what does it say about our society when we start seeing things like green gas being used to disperse crowds, it feels like we're losing sight of what's truly important... isn't it time for us to reevaluate the way we're approaching these situations and think about what's really at stake here?

 

[Master C]

I mean, come on, who thought using green gas was a good idea? Like, what's next? Tear gas lollipops? It sounds like an overreaction to me. I get that they want to protect themselves, but can't they just de-escalate the situation or call in backup instead of resorting to chemical warfare? And who are these 'agitators' that DHS is talking about? Just a bunch of people exercising their right to protest, if you ask me. The fact that the court ruling allowed for restricted munitions just makes it worse - now we've got law enforcement using all sorts of crazy tactics on peaceful protesters. It's like they're more interested in intimidating people than actually solving problems. And what's with the White House scheduling a visit from VP JD Vance to talk about 'restoring law and order'? Sounds like just another attempt to silence dissenting voices...

 

[Drab Dogfi]

man this green gas thing is wild i dont think its right that u s border patrol agents are using it on peaceful protesters like they're some kind of rioters or something newsflash: protests r a right not a threat i mean whats next gonna be tear gas in the streets? and what about all the dehumanizing stuff we see on those videos of ppl getting hit with it? its just creepy anyway u s gov needs to get its act together and figure out better ways 2 resolve these situations without resorting 2 extreme measures

 

[Happy Hippopotamus]

lol what's going on with these border patrol agents? using green gas on peaceful protesters? that's just crazy talk they're literally attacking people who are trying to exercise their right to free speech. i mean, who tries to spit on a cop? ok maybe they do, but that's not the point! the point is that cops have to use some level of force, but using gas is just ridiculous. and what's with all these court rulings allowing for restricted munitions? it feels like they're trying to create a police state or something we need to be able to trust our law enforcement, not see them getting taken out by some fancy lawyer.

 

[Kabuki Th]

The more I think about it , the more I'm like "wait, what's going on here? " One minute you've got these agents showing up in Minneapolis with all this green gas and the next thing you know, there's people getting hurt, protesting, and it just gets messy. But at the same time, I get why they'd want to protect themselves - it's not like they're walking around Minneapolis without any issues .

I think what bothers me is that there's no real transparency on what exactly happened that day. Were these protesters really as aggressive as DHS says? And if so, did using green gas really seem like the only option left? We need to get to the bottom of this and figure out if it was really necessary or just a PR stunt.

And can we talk about how ridiculous this whole situation is? I mean, we've got Vice President JD Vance coming to Minnesota to "restore law and order" - what does that even mean? Is he gonna start handing out badges to people who are good at standing in lines or something?

 

[Mania]

This recent development in Operation Metro Surge has raised serious concerns about the use of force by US Border Patrol agents against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis... I mean, it's alarming to see green gas being used to disperse crowds, considering it could lead to more harm than good... The fact that groups of agitators appeared at gas stations where agents were taking bathroom breaks highlights a broader issue with the lack of support for law enforcement personnel... It also brings up questions about what constitutes an 'aggressor' and whether the use of crowd control measures is proportionate to the threat posed... The court ruling allowing for restricted munitions seems like a step in the wrong direction, as it prioritizes enforcement over public safety...