DHS fires back after Dem lawmaker claims she was ‘pushed aside and pepper sprayed’ during ICE raid
In a heated confrontation during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Tucson, Arizona, Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva has claimed she was pepper sprayed while attempting to gather information from law enforcement officials. The incident occurred near the Taco Giro restaurant, a local establishment known for serving the community. Grijalva, who identified herself as a member of Congress, expressed her outrage on social media, stating, “When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed aside and pepper sprayed.” This event has sparked significant controversy, with Grijalva labeling ICE as a “lawless agency” operating without accountability or transparency.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refuted Grijalva’s allegations. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserted that Grijalva was not directly pepper sprayed but was merely present in the vicinity of someone who was. McLaughlin emphasized the chaos of the situation, noting that two law enforcement officers were seriously injured during the incident, which she described as a result of the actions of a “mob” that included Grijalva. She further stated that being a member of Congress does not exempt anyone from obstructing law enforcement. The confrontation has drawn the attention of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which has called for an investigation into the incident. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a prominent member of the caucus, condemned the event as a “disgusting display of violence,” highlighting the broader implications for American democracy.
This clash comes in the wake of DHS’s recent operations targeting criminal illegal immigrants, including those with serious offenses such as child sex offenses and domestic violence. McLaughlin reiterated the agency’s commitment to arresting and deporting criminal illegal aliens, underscoring the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States. As the situation develops, both sides are likely to continue voicing their perspectives, reflecting the deep divisions in the current immigration debate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txOojEYIFQc
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday pushed back against accusations
from Arizona
Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who claimed she was pepper sprayed during an immigration raid in Tucson.
In a post on X, Grijalva said she was “pushed aside and pepper sprayed” after identifying herself as a member
of Congress
while seeking information from officers during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) operation near the Taco Giro restaurant.
“ICE just conducted a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson — a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for years,” Grijalva wrote. “When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed aside and pepper sprayed.”
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In a separate post, Grijalva called ICE a “lawless agency” that is “operating with no transparency, no accountability, and open disregard for basic due process.”
DHSÂ Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin swiftly fired back at Grijalva’s claims, saying she was never directly sprayed but merely in the “vicinity of someone who was.”
“If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel,” McLaughlin said. “But they’re not true. She wasn’t pepper sprayed. She was in the vicinity of someone who was pepper sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement.”
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McLaughlin also said two
law enforcement officers
were “seriously injured” during the incident.
“In fact, 2 law enforcement officers were seriously injured by this mob that [Grijalva] joined,” she added. “Presenting oneself as a ‘member of Congress’ doesn’t give you the right to obstruct law enforcement. More information forthcoming.”
The clash also prompted the Congressional Progressive Caucus — which includes nearly 100
Democratic lawmakers
— to call for a congressional investigation.
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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a deputy chair of the caucus, denounced the incident as a “disgusting display of violence” against Grijalva and warned that it reflects “a dangerous moment for American democracy.”
The dispute unfolded a day after DHS announced it had rounded up at least a dozen
criminal illegal immigrants
— including “child sex offenders, domestic abusers, and violent gang members” — during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.Â
“No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin said.
DHS and Grijalva did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
