Protesters lock federal agents in Tucson taco restaurant parking lot during raid

EXCLUSIVE: TUCSON, Ariz. – Protesters swarmed a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, Friday morning, briefly trapping a bunch of federal brokers in a locked car parking zone as they executed a search warrant in reference to a wide-ranging investigation into tax and immigration fraud.

It occurred outdoors a Taco Giro restaurant on North Grande Avenue in Tucson. A SWAT staff responded after protesters surrounded the FBI and reportedly used a bicycle lock to dam the exit whereas officers had been inside.

“Particular brokers and officers from ICE Homeland Safety Investigations, IRS Legal Investigation and different federal companions are executing 16 search warrants in southern Arizona as a part of a yearlong investigation into immigration and tax violations,” an ICE spokesperson instructed Fox Information Digital. “There are a number of folks in custody.”

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Protesters stand behind a fence that they reportedly secured with a bicycle lock, blocking federal brokers from leaving the situation the place they’d simply raided a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, December 5, 2025. Brokers had been outdoors the enterprise, Taco Giro, as a part of an investigation into suspected immigration and tax evasion. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

Extra data is anticipated to be launched quickly, he added.

Authorities arrived on the restaurant round 9 a.m. It wasn’t open but. An hour later, between 100 and 200 protesters started gathering outdoors, chanting “Go house ICE” and different slogans, some even containing profanity.

An in depth-up of a bicycle lock utilized by protesters to lock a gate the place federal brokers raided a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, December 5, 2025. Brokers had been outdoors the corporate, Taco Giro, as a part of an investigation into suspected immigration and tax evasion. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

A lot of them carried an identical indicators that learn: “Hoods required for unlawful arrests.” A protester was seen shoving a finger in an officer’s face as he stood behind a metal barricade.

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Regulation enforcement officers face protesters after federal brokers raided a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The corporate, Taco Giro, is being investigated on suspicion of immigration and tax evasion. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

Amongst them was a extra confrontational group of a couple of dozen. Shortly after 11 a.m., somebody threw a bottle at an ICE automobile.

One other positioned a bicycle lock across the fence and locked the officers inside.

Regulation enforcement officers face protesters after federal brokers raided a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, December 5, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

Authorities used flash bangs and pepper spray and arrested at the least two folks within the crowd within the presence of a photographer.

After authorities minimize the lock with a noticed, video reveals smoke filling the air as they left the car parking zone in police automobiles. Protesters heard them booing as they left.

A normal view of Taco Giro on Grand Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, Friday, December 5, 2025. The corporate is beneath investigation for suspicion of immigration and tax evasion. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)

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Earlier, the officers had been additionally seen coming into a home across the nook, simply steps away.

Photographs taken there present a number of males in handcuffs being loaded into the again of an SUV.

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ICE stated the raids had been a part of an intensive investigation into immigration and tax fraud.