Arizona congresswoman pepper sprayed by ICE at taco joint after long wait for swearing in by Mike Johnson

Democratic Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva reported that federal agents used pepper spray on her and others while conducting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a Tucson eatery.

In a video shared on social media, Grijalva described the scene at Taco Giro, where approximately 40 masked federal officers arrived in multiple vehicles on Friday. She said she was "sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent" and physically "pushed around by others."

Grijalva, who was sworn into office by House Speaker Mike Johnson 50 days after winning a special election for an Arizona House seat, noted that only one officer spoke to her in a civil manner after she identified herself as a member of Congress. "I was simply asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress," she stated. "I can only imagine how they treat everyone else."

The ICE raid was part of a long-term investigation into alleged immigration and tax violations. Federal authorities reported that at least 190 individuals in the area were charged with immigration-related offenses over the past week, most involving unauthorized entry into the United States.

ICE just conducted a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson - a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for years. When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed aside and pepper sprayed.

The Trump administration had intensified nationwide immigration enforcement, leading to thousands of arrests, primarily targeting individuals without prior criminal convictions.

"The biggest problem in our community is that we have leadership with no respect for due process, the law, or the Constitution," Grijalva said. "People are literally disappearing from our streets."

Author: Olivia Parker