A Democratic member of the United States Congress has claimed she was pepper-sprayed and manhandled by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation at a restaurant in Arizona.
Confrontation at Taco Giro
In a social media video posted on Friday, 5 December 2025, Representative Adelita Grijalva described how roughly 40 federal officers, most wearing masks, arrived in multiple vehicles to conduct a raid at the Taco Giro restaurant in Tucson. Grijalva stated she was "sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent" and "pushed around by others."
The congresswoman, who was only recently sworn into office by House Speaker Mike Johnson after a 50-day wait following a special election victory, said she identified herself as a member of Congress. Despite this, she claimed only one officer attempted to speak to her in a civil manner.
"I literally was not being aggressive, I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress," Grijalva said. "I just can only imagine if they’re going to treat me like that, how they’re treating everyone else."
Context of the Raid and Wider Crackdown
Federal officials stated the raid was part of a years-long investigation into alleged immigration and tax violations. This incident occurs amidst a significant escalation of immigration enforcement across the United States.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, at least 190 people in the area were charged with immigration-related offenses within the preceding week. The vast majority of these cases involved individuals accused of entering the country without legal permission.
The Trump administration has accelerated a mass deportation campaign, resulting in thousands of arrests. Critics note that these operations largely target people who have never been convicted of any crimes.
Political Repercussions and Allegations
Grijalva directly linked the agents' conduct to the political climate, stating: "The biggest problem we have in this community is that we have Trump, who has no regard for any due process, the rule of law, the Constitution. They’re literally disappearing people from the streets."
The confrontation has ignited a fierce debate about enforcement tactics. Notably, Fox News host Laura Ingraham argued that referring to ICE agents as 'thugs' is "borderline illegal," highlighting the deep political divisions surrounding immigration policy.
This remains a developing story with potential significant implications for oversight of federal law enforcement and the ongoing national debate on immigration.
