ICE has accused Rep. Adelita Grijalva of joining a "rioting crowd" and impeding a Dec. 5 enforcement operation in Tucson, after Grijalva said she was pushed and pepper-sprayed while seeking information. ICE said the operation, part of a multiyear probe into a transnational criminal organization, resulted in 46 arrests and claims that more than 100 agitators arrived at one search site. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin disputed Grijalva’s account, saying she was only "in the vicinity" of someone who was pepper-sprayed. Officials on both sides have pointed reporters to agency statements for further details.
ICE Says Rep. Adelita Grijalva Joined 'Rioting Crowd' During Tucson Raid; Lawmaker Says She Was Pushed and Pepper-Sprayed
Law enforcement deal with protesters after an ICE raid on a restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The business, Taco Giro, is being investigated on suspicion of immigration and tax evasion.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday accused U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) of joining a "rioting crowd" and attempting to impede agents during a Dec. 5 enforcement operation in Tucson. The agency’s statement came after Grijalva said she was "pushed aside and pepper sprayed" while seeking information near the Taco Giro restaurant.
What ICE Says
ICE said the operation — part of a "multiyear investigation into a transnational criminal organization involved in labor exploitation, tax violations, and immigration violations" — led to the arrest of 46 people for immigration-related offenses. According to the agency, "over 100 agitators" arrived at one search location and "attempted to impede law enforcement operations," with some individuals allegedly assaulting officers and slashing tires. ICE said two people from the crowd were arrested: one for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and another for damaging a government vehicle. Two Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team operators were reported injured.
Lawmaker's Account and Official Responses
Rep. Grijalva posted on X that she was "pushed aside and pepper sprayed" when she identified herself as a Member of Congress and sought information from officers. She also criticized ICE on X as a "lawless agency" operating without transparency or accountability.
Protesters stand behind a gate locked with a bike lock, which blocked federal agents from leaving a restaurant in Tuscon, Arizona, after an ICE raid was conducted on the business on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.
ICE statement: "During the operation, U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva joined the rioting crowd and attempted to impede law enforcement officers, then took to social media to slander law enforcement by falsely claiming she was pepper sprayed."
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin disputed Grijalva’s claim, saying the congresswoman was not directly pepper-sprayed but was "in the vicinity of someone who was" as that person obstructed and assaulted law enforcement.
Follow-Up
When reached for comment, DHS referred media to ICE’s statement; ICE, in turn, declined to add further comment. Fox News Digital reported on the exchange and noted that the agency and the congresswoman offered differing accounts of the incident. Local details center on the Dec. 5 operation near Taco Giro in Tucson.
Reported facts: 46 arrests tied to a multiyear probe, injuries to two HSI operators, two crowd arrests for assault and vehicle damage, and allegations that more than 100 demonstrators attempted to disrupt the operation. The incident remains contested between ICE/DHS and Rep. Grijalva.
