Protesters in Tucson, Arizona, disrupted a significant drug bust on Wednesday night, mistakenly believing it was an immigration operation. Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple reported that a group of anti-ICE demonstrators positioned themselves between law enforcement and a home where authorities were executing a search warrant.
During the operation, officers seized over 120 pounds of fentanyl, 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and 30 pounds of cocaine. The suspect, identified as an illegal immigrant and former cartel member, was taken into custody. Sheriff Teeple criticized the protesters, stating they hindered the removal of the suspect’s vehicle from the scene. He expressed frustration that the protesters were blocking efforts to remove five million fentanyl pills and other drugs from the streets.
Despite law enforcement’s attempts to clarify that the operation was criminal in nature and not related to immigration enforcement, the protesters continued to demonstrate. Sheriff Teeple noted that some of the individuals involved had previously participated in a violent protest at an ICE facility.
The Tucson Police Department was called in to help manage the crowd, with Police Chief Chad Kasmar explaining the situation to the demonstrators. He emphasized that the warrant was for narcotics, not immigration.
This incident in Tucson is part of a broader trend, as anti-ICE protests have disrupted operations in other areas of the country. Recently, protesters in Omaha, Nebraska, physically obstructed ICE vehicles during a raid, and similar actions have occurred in Los Angeles.
The tensions surrounding these protests have escalated, leading to riots in various cities. In response to the unrest, President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, which drew criticism from local leaders. Republican governors in Texas and Missouri have also prepared their National Guards for potential protests.
The situation in Tucson highlights the ongoing conflict between law enforcement operations targeting drug trafficking and the protests against immigration enforcement, raising questions about public safety and community responses to law enforcement actions.