DHS fires back at Rep. Grijalva’s pepper-spray claim during Tucson ICE raid

The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) on Friday pushed again in opposition to allegations made by Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who claimed she was pepper-sprayed throughout an immigration raid in Tucson.

In a submit on

“ICE simply raided Taco Giro in Tucson, a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has been serving our neighborhood for years,” Grijalva wrote. “After I introduced myself as a member of Congress and requested for extra data, I used to be pushed apart and pepper-sprayed.”

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In a submit on (@Rep_Grijalva by way of X)

In a separate submit, Grijalva known as ICE a “lawless company” that “operates with no transparency, no accountability and open disregard for due course of.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin shortly fired again at Grijalva’s claims, saying she had by no means been sprayed immediately, however solely within the “proximity of somebody who was.”

“If her claims had been true, this may be a medical miracle,” McLaughlin mentioned. ‘However that is not true. She was not pepper sprayed. “She was in shut proximity to somebody who was being pepper sprayed whereas they had been obstructing and assaulting regulation enforcement.”

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McLaughlin additionally mentioned two regulation enforcement officers had been “significantly injured” in the course of the incident.

“The truth is, two regulation enforcement officers had been significantly injured by this gang [Grijalva] has joined,” she added. “Presenting your self as a ‘member of Congress’ doesn’t provide the proper to hinder regulation enforcement. Extra data to comply with.”

The conflict additionally prompted the Congressional Progressive Caucus – which incorporates almost 100 Democratic lawmakers – to name for a congressional investigation.

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DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned two regulation enforcement officers had been “significantly injured” in the course of the incident in Tucson. (DHS.gov)

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a vice chair of the caucus, denounced the incident as a “disgusting show of violence” in opposition to Grijalva and warned that it “displays a harmful second for American democracy.”

The dispute unfolded a day after DHS introduced it had rounded up at the least a dozen felony unlawful immigrants – together with “baby molesters, home abusers and violent gang members” – throughout Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

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“Regardless of when or the place, ICE will discover, arrest and deport ALL felony unlawful aliens,” McLaughlin mentioned.

DHS and Grijalva didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.