Well, folks, it’s not every day a Member of Congress gets a face full of pepper spray while grabbing lunch.

On a recent Friday in Tucson, Arizona, Rep. Adelita Grijalva found herself in the middle of a heated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a local eatery, claiming she and her staff were doused with pepper spray by masked agents, as Fox 10 in Phoenix reports.

This eyebrow-raising incident unfolded at Taco Giro, a beloved mom-and-pop restaurant on Tucson’s west side, known for serving the community for decades.

Unexpected Clash at Local Restaurant

Picture this: a quaint diner next to a church and a pre-school, suddenly swarmed by federal agents in masks.

Rep. Grijalva and her team, simply looking for a bite to eat, stumbled into the raid and, upon identifying herself as a congresswoman and requesting details, were allegedly shoved aside and sprayed with a chemical irritant.

Now, she’s unharmed, but one has to wonder if a bit of overzealousness was at play here.

Questions Raised Over Agent Conduct

Grijalva didn’t hold back, questioning how everyday folks -- those without the shield of congressional status -- might fare in such encounters.

If a lawmaker gets this treatment, what’s the experience for the average Joe or Jane in a community already on edge?

She’s right to ask, though one might argue ICE agents face split-second decisions in high-stress raids, and not every situation allows for a polite chat.

Community Impact Under Scrutiny

“Moments ago, while my staff and I were on our way to get lunch, we encountered an ICE raid taking place at one of my favorite local restaurants, Taco Giro, a small mom-and-pop restaurant that has served our community for decades on the west side of Tucson,” Grijalva stated.

“It’s in the heart of our community -- right next to a church and a pre-school. When I presented myself as a Member of Congress and asked for more information, my staff and I were pushed aside and pepper-sprayed by masked agents,” she added.

That’s a jarring scene, no doubt, but let’s not rush to paint every agent as a villain; still, the optics of spraying a public official near a pre-school aren’t exactly a PR win for ICE.

Broader Concerns About ICE Policies

Grijalva also voiced alarm over what she sees as ICE “terrorizing” communities under the current administration, questioning whether these operations target real threats or just long-standing, law-abiding residents.

“ICE has become a lawless agency under this Administration -- operating with no transparency, no accountability, and open disregard for basic due process,” she declared, demanding answers and insisting no family should live in fear.

While her passion is clear, one might counter that enforcing immigration law isn’t about fear but order -- though, admittedly, the lack of clarity around raid specifics leaves room for skepticism about methods and motives.