{"id":2518110,"date":"2025-12-05T17:43:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T22:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/grijalva-claims-ice-pepper-sprayed-her-in-arizona-restaurant\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T17:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T22:44:24","slug":"grijalva-claims-ice-pepper-sprayed-her-in-arizona-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/grijalva-claims-ice-pepper-sprayed-her-in-arizona-restaurant\/","title":{"rendered":"Grijalva claims ICE pepper-sprayed her in Arizona restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgrijalva-claims-ice-pepper-sprayed-her-in-arizona-restaurant%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2518110&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep.Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) alleges that she was pepper-sprayed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a raid near Taco Giro, a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, targeted in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fda-investigation-into-juul-could-vaporize-e-cigarette-giant\/\" title=\"FDA ... Into Juul Could Vaporize E-Cigarette Giant\">multi-year investigation<\/a> into immigration and tax violations. grijalva said she identified herself as a member of Congress while trying to seek clarification but was met with force and pepper spray, along with protesters and members of the press. Tho, the Department of Homeland Security denied that Grijalva was pepper-sprayed, stating she was near someone who was sprayed while obstructing law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >raid involved 16 search warrants executed<\/a> by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and other federal agencies, resulting in multiple arrests. This incident adds to ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement, with Democrats criticizing ICE&#8217;s aggressive tactics and Republicans supporting the crackdown as a key 2024 election issue.<\/p>\n<p>The event also follows other confrontations between lawmakers and immigration officials, including Rep. LaMonica McIver facing federal charges and Sen. Alex Padilla being forcibly removed during a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, highlighting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-introduce-bills-defending-female-athletes-and-parental-rights\/\" title=\"...ublicans Introduce Bills Defending Female Athletes and Parental Rights\">deep partisan divide<\/a> over immigration policy enforcement.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Grijalva claims she was pepper-sprayed by immigration officers in Arizona<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2424831\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) claims <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Immigration and<\/span> Customs Enforcement<\/a>&nbsp;officers pepper-sprayed her on Friday in Tucson, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\">Arizona<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Grijalva said ICE was conducting a raid near Taco Giro, a restaurant that was part of a sweep targeting multiple Mexican restaurants as part of a yearslong investigation into tax and immigration violations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3908411\/byron-donalds-calls-allegations-cory-mills-very-troubling\/\">Donalds calls allegations against Cory Mills &#8216;very troubling&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3907844\/defiant-female-lawmakers-charge-house-republican-leadership\/\">Defiant female lawmakers are leading the charge against House Republican leadership<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3907849\/house-appropriators-eye-smaller-spending-deal-avoid-nightmare-january\/\">House appropriators eye smaller spending deal to avoid &#8216;nightmare&#8217; January<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The congresswoman said she came across a community &ldquo;protecting their people&rdquo; by stopping immigration officials in their cars. She said she comes to Taco Giro once a week and, upon seeing the commotion, identified herself as a member of Congress but was met with force by officers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was sprayed in the face by a very aggressive agent, pushed around by others, when I literally was not being aggressive. I was asking for clarification, which is my right as a member of Congress,&rdquo; Grijalva said, adding that most of the ICE officers were &ldquo;rude and disrespectful,&rdquo; while only one attempted to speak to her in &ldquo;any kind of civil tone.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I just can only imagine that if they&rsquo;re going treat me like that, how they&rsquo;re treating everybody else,&rdquo; she added, claiming that some protesters and members of the press were sprayed, as well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICE just conducted a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson &ndash; a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for years.<\/p>\n<p>When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed-aside and pepper sprayed. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gPx0p3IXP2\">pic.twitter.com\/gPx0p3IXP2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rep. Adelita Grijalva (@Rep_Grijalva) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Rep_Grijalva\/status\/1997028508057718942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin pushed back on Grijalva&rsquo;s claims that she herself was pepper-sprayed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel. But they&rsquo;re not true. She wasn&rsquo;t pepper-sprayed,&rdquo; McLaughlin told the <em>Washington Examiner.<\/em> &ldquo;She was in the vicinity of someone who was pepper-sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement. In fact, two law enforcement officers were seriously injured by this mob that Rep. Adelita Grijalva joined.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Presenting one&rsquo;s self as a &lsquo;Member of Congress&rsquo; doesn&rsquo;t give you the right to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/725-people-have-been-arrested-for-jan-6-capitol-breach-most-hit-for-entering-or-remaining-in-capitol\/\" title=\"725+ People Have Been Arrested For Jan. 6 Capitol Breach, Most Hit For \u2018Entering Or Remaining\u2019 In Capitol\">obstruct law enforcement<\/a>. More information forthcoming.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Protesters and journalists were hit with pepper spray by Department of Homeland Security vehicles that attempted to leave the parking area of a Taco Giro restaurant after 11 a.m.,<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tucson.com\/news\/local\/border\/article_97798f01-5516-4f47-893b-df43dc48481d.html\"> according to<\/a> the <em>Arizona Daily Star<\/em>. Homeland Security Investigations carried out the raids, but did not specify if Grijalva herself was hit by pepper spray.<\/p>\n<p>ICE spokesman Fernando X. Burgos told the local outlet the raids at two Taco Giros locations were part of an investigation, which included 16 search warrants, carried out in southern Arizona on Friday morning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Special agents and officers from ICE Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and other federal partners, are executing 16 search warrants in southern Arizona as part of a yearslong investigation into immigration and tax violations. Multiple individuals are in custody,&rdquo; Burgos said. &ldquo;As soon as the number is confirmed, we will share more details.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The congresswoman is the latest lawmaker to engage with immigration officials since the Trump administration has cracked down on the influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border. Democrats have largely blasted ICE and other immigration agencies for their use of force against undocumented citizens, accusing them of racism for targeting Hispanic communities in droves. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans have praised the actions of the administration for cracking down on illegal immigration, a top issue in the 2024 election that led to the GOP gaining a trifecta in Washington.<\/p>\n<p>Other congressional Democrats have attempted to carry out oversight visits at ICE detention centers or speak to leaders like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, often leading to confrontations with officers and security.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is facing two of three federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3437725\/lamonica-mciver-indicted-federal-grand-jury-over-ice-protest-17-years\/\">charges against her<\/a>, accusing her of assaulting and impeding immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center in May. A federal judge <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/rep-lamonica-mciver-face-federal-charges-incident-ice\/story?id=127491258\">ruled in November<\/a> that she must face the two charges after McIver sought to dismiss the case.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) was handcuffed and taken to the ground by federal agents in June after he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3440078\/sen-padilla-forcibly-removed-noem-press-conference-in-california\/?rid=25466842&amp;env=23782a04687815829032ff694396533bb13b6d1037d0050e88fe9b4b5ab9a43e\">interrupted Secretary Kristi Noem<\/a>&nbsp;while she spoke during a press conference in California. The department accused him of doing so &ldquo;without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on.&rdquo; But in a widely-circulated&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/billmelugin_\/status\/1933222907398008912?s=46\">video<\/a>, he is filmed saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The actions taken against Padilla led to a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3440677\/padilla-removed-democrats-demanding-investigations\/\">rise in tensions on Capitol Hill<\/a> and one of the more contentious weeks in Congress, which saw a definitive split between Republicans and Democrats over the administration&rsquo;s immigration policies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grijalva says ICE pepper-sprayed her during Arizona raid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2518111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WEX_Adelita_Grijalva-14-e1763044791316.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4472,64401,8364,57394,4617],"class_list":["post-2518110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arizona","tag-grijalva","tag-ice","tag-pepper-spray","tag-restaurant"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WEX_Adelita_Grijalva-14-e1763044791316.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2518110"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518114,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518110\/revisions\/2518114"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2518111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2518110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2518110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2518110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}