The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday pushed back against accusations from Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who claimed she was pepper sprayed during an immigration raid in Tucson.
In a post on X, Grijalva said she was "pushed aside and pepper sprayed" after identifying herself as a member of Congress while seeking information from officers during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) operation near the Taco Giro restaurant.
"ICE just conducted a raid by Taco Giro in Tucson a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for years," Grijalva wrote. "When I presented myself as a Member of Congress asking for more information, I was pushed aside and pepper sprayed."
In a separate post, Grijalva called ICE a "lawless agency" that is "operating with no transparency, no accountability, and open disregard for basic due process."
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin swiftly fired back at Grijalva's claims, saying she was never directly sprayed but merely in the "vicinity of someone who was."
"If her claims were true, this would be a medical marvel," McLaughlin said. "But theyre not true. She wasnt pepper sprayed. She was in the vicinity of someone who was pepper sprayed as they were obstructing and assaulting law enforcement."
McLaughlin also said two law enforcement officers were "seriously injured" during the incident.
"In fact, 2 law enforcement officers were seriously injured by this mob that [Grijalva] joined," she added. "Presenting oneself as a member of Congress doesnt give you the right to obstruct law enforcement. More information forthcoming."
The clash also prompted the Congressional Progressive Caucus which includes nearly 100 Democratic lawmakers to call for a congressional investigation.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a deputy chair of the caucus, denounced the incident as a "disgusting display of violence" against Grijalva and warned that it reflects "a dangerous moment for American democracy."
The dispute unfolded a day after DHS announced it had rounded up at least a dozen criminal illegal immigrants including "child sex offenders, domestic abusers, and violent gang members" during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.
"No matter when and where, ICE will find, arrest, and deport ALL criminal illegal aliens," McLaughlin said.
DHS and Grijalva did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.
美国国土安全部（DHS）周五驳斥了亚利桑那州民主党众议员阿德利塔·格里哈尔瓦的指控。格里哈尔瓦声称自己在图森市的一次移民突袭行动中遭到胡椒喷雾袭击。
格里哈尔瓦在X平台发帖称，她在塔可吉罗餐厅附近美国移民和海关执法局（ICE）的一次行动中向警员询问信息时表明自己国会议员身份后，遭到"推搡和胡椒喷雾袭击"。
格里哈尔瓦写道："美国移民和海关执法局（ICE）刚刚突袭了图森市的Taco Giro餐厅——这家夫妻经营的小餐馆已为我们的社区服务多年。当我以国会议员身份要求了解更多信息时，却被推到一边并遭到胡椒喷雾袭击。"
在另一篇帖子中，格里哈尔瓦将移民和海关执法局（ICE）称为一个"无法无天的机构"，称其"运作缺乏透明度、毫无问责制，且公然无视基本正当程序"。
美国国土安全部助理部长特里西娅·麦克劳克林迅速反驳了格里哈尔瓦的说法，称自己从未被直接喷洒，只是"在附近有人被喷洒"。
"如果她的说法属实，那将是一个医学奇迹，"麦克劳克林表示，"但事实并非如此。她并未被胡椒喷雾击中，只是当时身处一名阻挠并袭击执法人员的抗议者附近，而该抗议者被喷了胡椒喷雾。"
麦克劳克林还表示，两名执法人员在事件中"受重伤"。
她补充道："事实上，格里哈尔瓦（Grijalva）参与的暴乱导致两名执法官员受重伤。自称'国会议员'并不意味着你有权妨碍执法。更多信息将陆续公布。"
此次冲突还促使国会进步党团——该党团包含近100名民主党议员——呼吁展开国会调查。
明尼苏达州民主党众议员、党团会议副主席伊尔汗·奥马尔谴责这起针对格里哈尔瓦的事件是"令人作呕的暴力行径"，并警告称这反映出"美国民主的危险时刻"。
这场争议爆发的前一天，美国国土安全部（DHS）宣布在明尼阿波利斯市开展的"地铁突袭行动"中，已逮捕至少12名非法移民罪犯，其中包括"儿童性犯罪者、家庭暴力施暴者和暴力团伙成员"。
麦克劳克林表示：“无论何时何地，美国移民和海关执法局（ICE）都将追查、逮捕并驱逐所有犯罪的非法移民。”
美国国土安全部（DHS）和格里哈尔瓦（Grijalva）未立即回应福克斯数字新闻的置评请求。
福克斯数字新闻的格雷格·诺曼（Greg Norman）对本报道亦有贡献。