A Democratic congresswoman from Arizona has alleged she was pepper-sprayed in the face by federal immigration agents during a heated protest in Tucson on Friday. The incident occurred as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers executed search warrants at a local restaurant.
Chaotic Standoff Outside Tucson Restaurant
Representative Adelita Grijalva stated she joined demonstrators outside Taco Giro, a family-run restaurant she frequents, where a large group of mostly masked ICE agents had gathered. The protesters, she said, were concerned that individuals were being detained without due process.
Video footage from the scene depicts a tense confrontation. Agents in tactical gear face off against protesters holding signs critical of ICE. Grijalva, a progressive Democrat known for criticising Trump-era immigration policies, is seen approaching the officers and urging them to leave before coughing. An agent holding a spray can is heard ordering the crowd to move.
In a separate clip, a projectile lands near Grijalva's feet, releasing an aerosol mist as she steps forward. "When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed aside and pepper sprayed," the congresswoman later stated.
DHS Denies Targeting and Accuses Obstruction
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a firm rebuttal to Grijalva's account. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the claim a "medical marvel" if true, asserting the representative was not directly sprayed but was in the vicinity of someone who was as they obstructed law enforcement.
McLaughlin added that two officers were seriously injured during the clash and emphasised that "presenting one’s self as a 'Member of Congress' doesn’t give you the right to obstruct law enforcement." She promised more details would follow.
ICE spokesperson Fernando Burgos explained the operation was part of a years-long investigation into immigration and tax violations, involving 16 search warrants across southern Arizona. Multiple people were taken into custody.
Political Backlash and Calls for Investigation
The incident has prompted strong reactions from local and national figures. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Vice-Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, both Democrats, condemned the operation in a joint statement. They said it "rapidly escalated into violence against the public" and criticised the disproportionate use of force, including smoke grenades and pepper balls.
The officials encouraged witnesses to submit any video or photographic evidence for potential investigation. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego also voiced support for Grijalva on social media, writing: "Pepper-spraying a sitting member of Congress is disgraceful, unacceptable, and absolutely not what we voted for. Period."
Grijalva, who was elected in a special election last September but only sworn in last month following a congressional recess, reflected on the encounter's broader implications. "I just can only imagine if they’re going to treat me like that, how they’re treating everybody else," she said.
