ICE agents – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used pepper-spray balls against a crowd of protesters outside Delaney Hall, a privately run immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, injuring Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.). Kim says he tried to keep people sa
For a senator who spent the weekend inside and trying to negotiate with federal officials, Monday’s scene outside Delaney Hall turned into something sharper, more chaotic—and physical.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pepper-sprayed a crowd of protesters outside the privately run immigration detention center in Newark. New Jersey. using pepper-spray balls. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) was apparently injured in the incident. footage of him being treated for the chemical irritant circulating on social media.
Kim told NJ.com that he had been trying to reach an agreement with the officers on Monday to scale down their presence. He said he wanted immigration advocates—rather than armed ICE agents—to inspect any vehicles leaving the facility to check whether detainees were inside.
Instead of negotiations, Kim said the federal immigration agents began pushing protesters backward. He described officers firing rounds of pepper-spray balls into the crowd and arresting several people, according to NJ.com.
The Homeland Security response to the incident came quickly and sharply. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CNN that approximately 125 people had “surrounded” Delaney Hall. forming “a human chain” and “blocking all entries and exits” in protest. amid reports of hunger strikes and inhumane conditions.
In a later statement on social media, the department claimed that no individuals “were directly struck” by the pepper-spray balls.
Kim disputed that account in his own telling of what happened. He told NJ.com that he had been struck in the hand before inhaling the chemical irritant. which caused him trouble breathing. He said. “I ran up and put myself between the ICE officers and the crowd. and that’s when they started to shoot at us with the pepper balls — as well as using the pepper spray — and were tackling people.”.
Kim added that his hand “hurts a lot,” and emphasized that the focus wasn’t about him: “I ran up…”—his account made clear he was trying to protect people in the moment—“this is not about me.” He said, “I just wanted to try to keep people safe.”
Homeland Security officials also rejected the underlying allegations tied to the protest. On Monday. Lauren Bis. the Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs. told CNN there is “NO hunger strike” and “NO subprime conditions” inside Delaney Hall. adding that “sanctuary politicians” like Kim “should be thanking ICE” for keeping “rapists. murderers. pedophiles and drug traffickers” detained.
Kim’s case rested on his weekend access and direct conversations with detainees. He told NJ.com he called Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. who he said recently appeared confounded that ICE “has been demonized. ” to gain access to the facility. Kim said he and his colleague spoke to multiple people experiencing poor conditions and treatment. describing dozens—“if not 100 or more”—detainees during those conversations.
In those accounts. Kim described what he said detainees told him about daily life: poor food described as “really disgusting. ” lack of medical care. and people who. in his view. should be elsewhere. He said. “We talked with dozens. if not 100 or more of the detainees. ” adding that detainees were “often…talking about the poor food that they’re getting. really disgusting food. that they’re not getting the medical treatment that they need and deserve.”.
Kim said he spoke with a pregnant woman who was not getting the care she needed, and with an 18-year-old high school senior who, Kim said, “should be at a school, not in this facility there.” He argued, “This place needs a shutdown, and these people need to be able to get out.”
Mullin, according to Kim’s retelling, echoed Bis and claimed there are “NO” hunger strikes or “subprime conditions” at Delaney Hall, condemning Democratic lawmakers who spent the weekend “smearing ICE.”
Kim held to his own account as the protest escalated outside the building. He told NJ.com that he had spoken directly to detainees and said he had been “engaged in this hunger strike.” When asked about the situation on Monday, he said, “It’s sad, it’s a sad day.”
Andy Kim ICE pepper-spray balls Delaney Hall Newark New Jersey Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin Lauren Bis immigration detention protesters hunger strike sanctuary politicians