Arizona Rep. Grijalva Falsley Claims She Was Pepper Sprayed During ICE Raid. Her Own Video Shows That Isn't True.

U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) claimed on December 5, 2025, that federal immigration agents pepper-sprayed her in the face during a raid at a Tucson taco shop, but the Department of Homeland Security denied the allegation, stating she was not struck and that agents used crowd control measures only after protesters assaulted them. The incident, captured on video by Grijalva and her staff, occurred outside Taco Giro, a westside restaurant, as roughly 40 ICE agents executed warrants related to immigration and tax violations in a years-long investigation targeting multiple Tucson establishments.

Grijalva, who represents Arizona's 3rd District including Tucson, arrived with staff and local activists after reports of the raid surfaced around 1 p.m. MST. In a video posted to her social media, she described approaching the agents to seek information, stating, "I literally was not being aggressive, I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress." The footage shows Grijalva and her group confronting a line of agents in tactical gear, with an orange chemical spray deployed in their direction as a protester throws a bottle. Grijalva coughs and urges officers to "calm down," later claiming in a statement, "I was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent, pushed around by others." She added that the encounter left her and her staff "harassed," emphasizing her weekly patronage of the "small mom-and-pop" restaurant. (Taco Giro is an Arizona corporation, specifically organized as El Giro LLC, with nine locations.)

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement denying Grijalva was targeted or sprayed, asserting, "Congresswoman Grijalva was not pepper-sprayed. ICE law enforcement did NOT target a restaurant and were only at this location executing a federal search warrant." Agents faced immediate violence upon arrival: protesters threw rocks, fireworks, and bottles, injuring two officers—one with a laceration requiring stitches and another with bruises from a thrown object. Agents then deployed tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowd of about 50, including Grijalva's group, which had gathered to block the operation. Video from DHS body cameras shows the spray directed at agitators advancing on the line, not specifically at Grijalva, who was standing several feet back.

This episode fits a pattern of Democratic lawmakers and officials inserting themselves into ICE enforcement actions, often escalating situations and obstructing federal officers. In Portland, Oregon, on October 4, 2025, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) confronted agents during a raid, leading to her temporary detention after protesters assaulted officers with projectiles. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson directed police to monitor ICE on November 10, resulting in 12 arrests for interfering with warrants. In Los Angeles, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a blockade on October 23, delaying a deportation bus and prompting a lawsuit from DHS for violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324. Such interventions have complicated operations, with ICE reporting 200 assaults on agents since September, up 40% from 2024.

Grijalva, sworn in January 2025 after flipping Arizona's 3rd District from Republican hands, has been vocal against Trump's immigration policies, sponsoring the "No Troops in Our Streets Act" in November to bar National Guard use in enforcement. Tucson, in her district, has seen heightened ICE activity under Operation Midway Blitz, with 450 arrests in October alone for visa overstays and fraud. The raid at Taco Giro targeted owners accused of harboring undocumented workers and evading taxes, part of a probe uncovering $1.2 million in unpaid wages.

DHS emphasized that Grijalva's presence "did not deter" the operation and that agents followed protocol, using force only after threats. Grijalva's office has not responded to requests for clarification on the video, but she reiterated her right to oversight. The incident underscores ongoing friction in sanctuary-adjacent areas, where local politicians challenge federal authority, delaying removals of individuals with final orders. No charges have been filed against Grijalva, but the event adds to DHS' tally of 150 congressional interferences in 2025.