US Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a protest outside an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday. The incident occurred as Senator Kim attempted to de-escalate a tense standoff between protestors and armed ICE agents outside Delaney Hall, where detainees are reportedly on hunger strike over inhumane conditions.
Details of the Incident
Senator Kim described his eyes and throat as “burning” after ICE agents used pepper spray and pepper balls to clear a path for an armoured vehicle. Witnesses reported that agents also 'tackled people' amid the chaos. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attended the protest earlier, hearing complaints from families about spoiled food and inadequate medical care for detainees, but left before the confrontation.
Official Responses
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed officers used minimum force against “rioters” and denied a hunger strike. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the protest a “political stunt”. Senator Kim's office has called for an investigation into the use of force.
