Rep. Adelita Grijalva alleges that ICE agents pushed and pepper-sprayed her

Dec. 6 Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shoved and pepper-sprayed her during an enforcement action outside a restaurant in Tucson on Friday. Grijalva said she approached the scene, which involved around 40 ICE agents and several vehicles, to ask questions and seek clarification.

In a social media post, the newly elected Congresswoman stated that she was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent and was pushed around by others. She added that she feared people were being detained without due process, emphasizing that she was not aggressive but merely exercising her right as a member of Congress to inquire.

A video shared by The Washington Post shows Grijalva telling ICE officers, Dont push me, and repeatedly shouting, Let her go, while protesters physically confront the agents. The footage captures tear gas and pepper spray being deployed, with some pepper projectiles landing near Grijalva.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin disputed Grijalvas account, stating on X that she was not directly sprayed but was near someone who was while obstructing law enforcement. McLaughlin added that two officers were seriously injured during the incident and stressed that claiming congressional status does not allow obstruction of law enforcement.

Grijalva later told CNN that the governments portrayal of her actions was misleading and accused the Trump administration of denying due process to those detained. She noted that ICE had arrested two individuals during the operation and that their whereabouts were unknown.

Author: Olivia Parker