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Journalist struck by ICE tear gas canister during protest, files federal claim

May 25, 2026·Location: Paramount, CA

Journalist struck by ICE tear gas canister during protest, files federal claim
Photo via thedissenter.org

Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, a Los Angeles-based journalist and videographer, was covering a protest against ICE raids in Paramount when law enforcement moved to disperse the crowd using tear gas, percussion grenades, and other crowd-control weapons. A tear gas canister struck him in the head, exploding crystalline CS powder across his face; he sought emergency medical care but was not severely injured. He said the canister appeared to have been fired by Homeland Security Investigations agents, part of ICE. Nearly a year later, Beckner-Carmitchel filed a federal tort claim with the ACLU against immigration officers over the incident.

Timeline

May 25, 2026—Filed a federal tort claim with the ACLU against immigration officers over the incident
Jun 7, 2025—Struck in the head by a tear gas canister while covering an ICE protest in Paramount, California
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