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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday pushed again in opposition to accusations from Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who claimed she was pepper sprayed throughout an immigration raid in Tucson.
In a publish on X, Grijalva mentioned she was “pushed apart and pepper sprayed” after figuring out herself as a member of Congress whereas looking for data from officers throughout a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) operation close to the Taco Giro restaurant.
“ICE simply carried out a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson — a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our neighborhood for years,” Grijalva wrote. “When I introduced myself as a Member of Congress asking for extra data, I used to be pushed apart and pepper sprayed.”
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In a publish on X, Grijalva mentioned she was “pushed apart and pepper sprayed” after figuring out herself as a member of Congress whereas looking for data from officers throughout an ICE operation close to the Taco Giro restaurant. (@Rep_Grijalva by way of X)
In a separate publish, Grijalva known as ICE a “lawless company” that’s “working with no transparency, no accountability, and open disregard for fundamental due course of.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin swiftly fired again at Grijalva’s claims, saying she was by no means instantly sprayed however merely within the “neighborhood of somebody who was.”
“If her claims have been true, this may be a medical marvel,” McLaughlin mentioned. “But they’re not true. She wasn’t pepper sprayed. She was within the neighborhood of somebody who was pepper sprayed as they have been obstructing and assaulting regulation enforcement.”
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McLaughlin additionally mentioned two regulation enforcement officers have been “significantly injured” throughout the incident.
“In truth, 2 regulation enforcement officers have been significantly injured by this mob that [Grijalva] joined,” she added. “Presenting oneself as a ‘member of Congress’ doesn’t provide the proper to impede regulation enforcement. More data forthcoming.”
The conflict additionally prompted the Congressional Progressive Caucus — which incorporates practically 100 Democratic lawmakers — to name for a congressional investigation.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned two regulation enforcement officers have been “significantly injured” throughout the incident in Tuscon. (DHS.gov)
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a deputy 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 prison unlawful immigrants — together with “baby intercourse offenders, home abusers, and violent gang members” — throughout Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
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“No matter when and the place, ICE will discover, arrest, and deport ALL prison unlawful aliens,” McLaughlin mentioned.
DHS and Grijalva didn’t instantly reply to Fox News Digital’s request for remark.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
