Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona said Friday that she was pepper-sprayed and “pushed around” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a raid at a Tucson restaurant.
In a video statement posted online, Grijalva described the scene as local residents gathered to confront roughly 40 ICE agents, many masked and arriving in multiple vehicles, near a restaurant she frequents. “I was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent, pushed around by others, when I literally was not being aggressive, I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress,” she said.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson disputed Grijalva’s account, stating she was “in the vicinity” of someone else who was pepper-sprayed while obstructing and assaulting law enforcement. “If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel. But they’re not true. She wasn’t pepper-sprayed,” the spokesperson said, adding that presenting oneself as a member of Congress does not allow anyone to obstruct law enforcement. Two officers were reportedly seriously injured during the incident.
Tucson police confirmed that ICE was serving a federal search warrant at Taco Giro on Friday morning. Officers said federal tactical teams deployed chemical munitions and called for police support to safely exit the area amid the gathered crowd.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz condemned the raid, saying it “rapidly escalated into violence against the public.” They criticized federal agents for wearing unidentifiable clothing and using pepper balls and smoke grenades against civilians, including Grijalva.
Grijalva said she saw multiple people, including the press and her staff, being directly sprayed during the confrontation. She criticized the federal government’s approach, claiming it disregards due process and the Constitution.
Grijalva, sworn in last month after winning a special election to succeed her late father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, also signed a bipartisan discharge petition to release files connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s case.