Arizona Democratic Congressional Delegation Calls for Formal Congressional Investigation into DHS Use of Force and Obstruction of Oversight

WASHINGTON –Today,Arizona Senators Ruben GallegoandMark KellyjoinedRepresentatives Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Greg Stanton (AZ-04),andYassamin Ansari (AZ-03)in sending a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees calling for a formal congressional investigation into a troubling pattern of abusive conduct and obstruction of independent journalism and congressional oversight by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The request follows arecent DHS operation in Tucson, Arizona, during which agents deployed chemical agents against a crowd that included Rep. Grijalva and clearly identified journalists.
“In a recent incident, DHS agents demonstrated an aggressive response that included the deployment of chemical agents during an operation in Tucson, Arizona, where Representative Adelita S. Grijalva presented herself as Member of Congress to use her legal authority and constitutional duty to obtain pertinent facts, observe policies, and conduct oversight of the executive’s implementation of federal law,”the lawmakers wrote.“On the same day, DHS issued a public statement denying the incident, which is inconsistent with independent press accounts, information from eyewitnesses, and video footage. Such contradictions further erode public trust in the Department and underscore the need for clear, transparent congressional review of its operations.
“This episode is part of a growing and deeply concerning national pattern that raises serious questions about DHS’ operations. Under the current administration, DHS personnel have repeatedly used force or obstructed elected officials and members of the press attempting to observe or inquire about enforcement actions and detention. The growing number of incidents collectively suggest a systemic disregard for oversight, transparency, and constitutional protections by DHS and its component agencies,”the lawmakers continued.
The letter requests a formal congressional investigation into DHS, including to:“Investigate the extent of DHS’ obstruction of Congressional oversight, interference with the right of the press to document and report on DHS operations, excessive use of force tactics against American civilians, including the use of chemical agents and other extraordinary measures, and the impact these tactics have on businesses and local communities.”
In aSeptember ruling, a federal judge wrote that federal officers “unleashed crowd control weapons indiscriminately and with surprising savagery” during protests that occurred in Los Angeles. “Specifically, the Court concludes that federal agents’ indiscriminate use of force … will undoubtedly chill the media’s efforts to cover these public events and protestors seeking to express peacefully their views on national policies,” the judge wrote.
Read the full letterHERE.
12/12/25