Arizona Lawmaker Claims Pepper Spray Incident During ICE Raid

Recently, a Democratic representative from Arizona shared a video in which she alleged that federal agents pepper-sprayed her during an ICE operation at a Tucson taco restaurant.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who was just sworn into office, stated in her video that the ICE agents used pepper spray during a raid on Taco Giro, a small family-run establishment known in the community.

In her account, she explained that she identified herself as a lawmaker while requesting information but was allegedly dismissed and then sprayed. “I was pushed aside and pepper-sprayed,” she asserted in the video.

She claimed that there were around 40 law enforcement agents involved, most of whom were masked. Grijalva emphasized her concern about how the agents might treat others in the community who lack the same level of protection she has.

“I’m fine, but if they treat me like that, how will they treat others?” she remarked, highlighting her worries for community members who may not have the same privileges.

However, several social media users pointed out that she didn’t appear to be a victim of pepper spray.

Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, responded to Grijalva’s claims, stating, “If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel. But they are not true. She was not pepper-sprayed. Instead, she was near someone who was while obstructing and attacking law enforcement.”

McLaughlin further noted that two ICE agents sustained serious injuries from the crowd with whom Grijalva was associated.

She added that merely identifying as a “legislator” does not grant someone the right to interfere with law enforcement activities.

As for Grijalva, she mentioned in her video that she was dining at the taco restaurant when the raid commenced. At one point, she coughed, attributing it to the pepper spray exposure.