Democrat Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva has been accused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of joining a violent mob that attacked federal agents during a major operation targeting a transnational criminal organization in Tucson, Arizona.
The raid, which resulted in the arrest of 46 illegal aliens, including a convicted sex offender, exposed a network involved in human smuggling, labor exploitation, tax violations, and immigration crimes.
Unfortunately, it was rocked by chaos as over 100 leftist activists arrived on the scene, assaulting officers and slashing their tires.
The operation took place on Friday, when ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona team, along with partners including the IRS Criminal Investigation, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, and other federal, state, and local agencies, executed 16 federal search warrants.
These warrants targeted nine family-owned restaurants and seven associated stash houses in the Tucson area, including locations in Sierra Vista, Green Valley, Casa Grande, and Apache Junction.
The multiyear investigation aimed to dismantle a criminal syndicate exploiting American labor and commerce systems.
Among the arrests was a previously deported illegal alien who had served five years in prison for sexual assault and now faces charges for unlawful reentry.
The mission turned dangerous when rioters intervened at one restaurant location and over 100 agitators locked a gate to trap agents inside.
In a press release, ICE explained, “At one of the locations, over 100 agitators descended and attempted to impede law enforcement operations, locking a gate to trap agents within the perimeter of the restaurant. Agitators quickly turned violent, assaulting officers and slashing tires. An HSI Special Response Team was mobilized to regain control of the situation, where they were forced to deploy countermeasures.”
In a video posted on X, Grijalva described the targeted restaurant, Taco Giro, as a “mom-and-pop” spot she visits weekly and claimed she and her staff were aggressively pushed and sprayed while simply seeking clarification, invoking her congressional privileges.
She further slammed ICE as a “lawless agency” operating without transparency or due process.
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. pic.twitter.com/gPx0p3IXP2
— Rep. Adelita Grijalva (@Rep_Grijalva) December 5, 2025
In the press release, ICE blasted Rep. Grijalva for joining the rioters and lying about what happened.
“During the operation, U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva joined the rioting crowd and attempted to impede law enforcement officers, then took to social media to slander law enforcement by falsely claiming she was pepper-sprayed,” the press release added.
Two SRT operators were injured in the melee, one suffering a bicep rupture and the other a knee injury, and both received medical treatment.
Two U.S. citizens from the mob were arrested for assaulting a federal officer, damaging government property, and obstruction, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office accepting prosecution, according to ICE.
“This multiyear investigation that targeted TCOs alleged to be involved in human smuggling, human trafficking derived from peonage resulted in the shutdown of the restaurants,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede.
Rede continued, “These enforcement actions have unequivocally disrupted this criminal organization’s ability to exploit our lawful labor and system of commerce. This agency will not stand for it and those seeking to continue such practices are on notice — there will be more enforcement operations in Arizona.”
The post ICE Says Democrat Rep. Adelita Grijalva ‘Joined the Rioting Crowd’ During Major Bust of Transnational Criminal Ring in Arizona, Attempted to Impede Agents, Lied About Being Pepper Sprayed appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.