TUCSON, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – Arizona’s newest congressional representative says she was pepper-sprayed by immigration agents during raids and protests in the state on Friday.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva said in a post on X that she witnessed 40 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during demonstrations linked to a federal operation at Taco Giro, a Tucson-area Mexican food chain.
Video posted on social media showed agents using pepper spray on the large group of protestors, along with Rep. Grijalva, who arrived and tried to talk to those at the scene.
The Democratic lawmaker said she had shown up to get lunch for herself alongside her staff. When she arrived, she said she identified herself as a member of Congress and was asking federal agents questions when she was reportedly pepper-sprayed.
“I was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent and pushed around by others when I literally was not being aggressive,” she said. “I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress.”
Rep. Grijalva continued, “We saw people directly sprayed, members of our press, everybody that was with me, my staff member, myself, two staff members, we have remnants of whatever they sprayed on us.”
ICE officials confirmed that people were in custody following southern Arizona raids.
Tricia McLaughlin with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Rep. Grijalva was nearby someone who was pepper-sprayed because they were “obstructing and assaulting law enforcement.” She added that two law enforcement officers were “seriously hurt by this mob.”
“While I am fine, if that is the way they treat me, how are they treating other community members who do not have the same privileges and protections that I do?” Rep. Grijalva shared in a written statement.
According to ICE, it joined other federal partners, including the IRS Criminal Investigations Unit, to conduct 16 search warrants in southern Arizona.
Authorities said the warrants were conducted as part of a years-long investigation into immigration and tax violations.
Multiple arrests were made, and an exact number would be released later, an ICE spokesperson said.
A Tucson news crew captured at least one protester being detained during a confrontation with agents, while another appeared to be directly confronting one agent. It’s unclear what prompted the demonstrations to escalate.
In a joint statement, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz called the situation an “disproportionate use of force.”
The Tucson Police Department said it conducted traffic control in the area and was not directly involved in the operations.
At least one other Taco Giro Tucson location was also raided, according to KOLD. Eyewitness accounts also detailed that border agents and crime scene tape could be seen at Taco Giro’s locations in Casa Grande, Sierra Vista and Vail, Arizona.
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