U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) of participating in a violent protest against federal agents during a large-scale enforcement operation in Tucson, Arizona on December 2025 targeting a transnational criminal network involved in human smuggling and labor trafficking.
The operation, conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona unit with support from multiple federal, state, and local agencies, resulted in the arrest of 46 individuals, including a convicted sex offender. Over 100 demonstrators reportedly interfered with the raid, assaulting officers and vandalizing property.
According to ICE, Rep. Grijalva joined the protesters and falsely claimed law enforcement had pepper-sprayed her. In recorded footage, she referred to the targeted restaurant as a community favorite while condemning ICE as a “lawless agency.” Tensions escalated when protesters chained a gate shut in an attempt to confine agents inside the restaurant’s perimeter, prompting the deployment of an HSI Special Response Team.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede stated: “These enforcement actions have unequivocally disrupted this criminal organization’s ability to exploit our lawful labor and system of commerce,” and affirmed that similar operations will continue.
