Why Babies Should Not Attend ICE Protests | CS Gas Risks

An Open Letter to Mothers Taking Babies to ICE Protests

Over the past week, a semi-viral video of a news reporter interviewing a mother at an ICE protest sent chills down our spine. She stated that she wanted the child to “feel the love” of the crowd and we won’t shame her for doing what she thought was best for her child. She is likely a good mother who simply does not know what we know. For over a decade now, MIRA Safety has researched the effects of chemical agents on the human body and have developed products to counter those threats. The CBRN experts from the Israeli Defense Forces have developed a solution for children as young as two. It can work on babies, but we know how unpredictable they can be. So age 2 is what is recommended. We’re proud to offer that to the average American family. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the market exclusively for babies. If we don’t have it or the Israeli Defense Forces don’t have it, there is likely no viable solution to date. From the team here at MIRA, please do not take your children to an ICE protest. At least not in this current season of history. There are no guarantees for your baby and we know what can happen when the gas starts flying. Young children have immature respiratory systems and higher breathing rates, which can amplify the effects of chemical irritants.  Crowd-control agents are intended for adult physiology, not developing lungs. 

Teaching Children the Virtue of Civic Action

Image source: CNN

Before we get into the details of gas and CBRN protection, we want to take a minute and talk about teaching children the virtue of civic action. There is indeed value in taking young children to organized movements in order to inspire them early in life. I’m sure that any child who heard Martin Luther King deliver his “I have a dream” speech remembers it to this day. 

ICE protests as they currently exist are not the teaching grounds one hoped they would be. They blur the line between protest and riot which has elicited strong reactions from law enforcement. If you take your child to an ICE protest then you are signing your child up to breathe CS gas. We may wish it were not so, but that is the current environment. 

This past month, a family driving in a minivan inadvertently got caught up between the protestors and ICE. A canister of CS gas landed under the van and toxic fumes began to fill the vehicle. Six children ranging from 11 years old to 6 months old were inside the van. A flash bang caused the air bags to deploy and an exiting vehicle seemed almost impossible.  The baby suffered serious breathing issues, but is thankfully looking to recover. Friends, please do not take your baby to an ICE protest.

What Does CS Gas Do to the Human Body?

Image source: Envato

CS gas, commonly referred to as tear gas, is a common crowd control agent used around the world. It is used as a less than legal agent where the onset of symptoms can begin between 20 and 60 seconds. The gas is a potent sensory irritant which attaches itself to moist mucus membranes like eyes, nose, mouth, and wet skin. 

As a United States Marine, I personally endured the gas chamber which was filled with CS gas on multiple occasions. It is an awful experience and I’ve watched fully trained Marines with tears in their eyes, snot running down their nose, and vomit coming out of their mouths screaming in pain. It is an unpleasant experience that I would wish on no one. Particularly a child. 

Thankfully, the symptoms will cease in 10 to 30 minutes of clean air. In the Marine Corps, we had to put our gas masks back on in the chamber and then clear the mask to reach its natural antidote, clean air. I can personally testify to the fact that gas masks work. The problem is when people are denied clean air like the baby trapped in the van. Or, in some cases like when the individual is part of a vulnerable population, like being a baby. Please do not take your babies to an ICE protest.

Protecting Children from the Effects of CS Gas

Image source: MIRA Safety

We have committed ourselves to providing PPE for children. It was a seminal moment for MIRA Safety when we realized this need. We had already begun to produce masks for adults when a customer asked what options we had for his children. It stopped us in our tracks when we considered the implications of not offering an option. 

The scenario would be that of one of our customers fully protected by our adult gas masks only to watch his children choke under the weight of some CBRN threat. This sent us full speed in a couple of directions. First, a children’s gas mask that operated like a traditional gas mask. The MD-1 Children’s Gas Mask is designed so that the medium mask fits children 2 to 6 years old and the large mask fits children 6 to 12 years old. 

The only problem is that we have children ourselves and getting a full face respirator on a 2 year old is easier said than done. This is what led us to the product developed by the Israeli Defense Force, the MD-2 CBRN Kids Gas Mask Respirator. With a battery powered blower, it circulates the air within the hood and is much easier to place and maintain on a younger child. In the meantime, please don’t take your baby to an ICE protest. 

Protecting Your Family From Chemical Threats in a Divisive Environment

Image source: Envato

Much like the family that accidentally drove up on the clash between ICE and protestors, many American families don’t anticipate that they will ever have the need of PPE designed to counter CBRN threats. As we say in prepping, you prepare for the threats of which you conceive. However, you truly prepare because there are threats out there you can’t yet imagine. 

The reality is that we are in a divisive season in U.S. history and it is likely that things will get worse before they get better. Keep in mind that we are coming up on the 2026 midterms where it is unlikely that either side will peacefully accept a loss without some form of protest. Understand that Minneapolis is just one major American city experiencing a surge in ICE enforcement. What happens when it comes to New York, Seattle, or San Francisco?

Just because you don’t live in a major U.S. city doesn’t mean that the cultural division we feel in this country won’t hit home. This country is quickly devolving into one of two tribes and if you find yourself surrounded by the other tribe in your small town, things could get ugly. We wish it were not so, but that is the outlook for at least the next 12 months and beyond. You don’t have to buy our products, but it is your responsibility to your family to prepare for the day that most people dread. 

No One Cares for Your Family More Than You

Image source: Envato

We don’t for one second think that we have more love and concern for the babies we see popping up at ICE protests than their own mothers. We just have more knowledge and that knowledge has compelled us to write this article today. We have dedicated our lives to keeping the average American family safe and this was just a new threat that we felt we needed to address. Please don’t take your baby to an ICE protest. 

The same is true for those who always assume the government will be there to save them. Please understand that no one, including the government, cares for your family more than you do. The burden is on you to prepare them for the worst. This means coming up with a plan. Practicing that plan often to ensure every family knows their role. Procuring the right equipment and staying informed of the latest threats as they develop. 

If the team here at MIRA can be of any help to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It doesn’t matter if you are new to this world and don’t understand what questions to ask. Granted, the best time to prepare was always sooner. However, the second best time to prepare is always now. It’s not too late to get your family ready. Stay safe friends and keep training.