US senator says he was pepper sprayed by federal agents during protest at ICE facility | ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-05-26 08:12:00 — www.theguardian.com
Senator Andy Kim Pepper-Sprayed During Protest at New Jersey Detention Facility
New Jersey Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed by federal agents on Monday during a protest at Delaney Hall, a detention facility in Newark. The protest was sparked by allegations of poor conditions and a hunger strike by detainees. Video footage shared on social media captured Kim receiving assistance from a volunteer who poured water into his eyes as he emerged from the chaotic scene.
Details of the Incident
Kim, who was joined by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, had just visited Delaney Hall to assess the conditions firsthand. He described the situation outside as a “standoff” between protesters and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who had deployed an armored vehicle as a barricade. “ICE officials told me that they were going to push through the crowd with their vehicle and they wanted to get some vehicles out of there,” Kim recounted. “I tried to arrange a situation where people would not get hurt, where there wouldn’t be a confrontation. Unfortunately, ICE just continued on.”
As tensions escalated, Kim reported that demonstrators were “getting tackled and brought to the ground,” while ICE agents began using pepper spray and pepper balls against the crowd. “I tried to do whatever I could standing in the middle to keep people safe,” he said.
Conditions at Delaney Hall
Protesters have been at Delaney Hall since Friday, alleging that detainees are being denied fresh food, medical care, and proper air conditioning. The situation intensified when news broke that authorities planned to transfer Martin Soto, a detainee who organized the hunger strike, to another facility. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that “agitators” had blocked the agency’s initial attempt to move Soto, but he was eventually transferred to a different facility later that evening.
Government Response
In a post on X, Kim expressed his outrage, stating, “What I witnessed and experienced today was shameful. Delaney Hall is a failure; it’s this administration’s failure.” He called for the facility to be shut down to prevent further failures. Meanwhile, DHS issued a statement blaming “rioters” for the violence, asserting that “no individuals were directly struck by pepper ball projectiles” and that law enforcement had acted within their training to protect themselves and the public.
Political Context
This incident comes amid stalled efforts by the Trump administration to secure a $70 billion funding measure for ICE and border patrol. Senate Republicans recently derailed the bill, which included provisions for a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Kim’s experience is not isolated; he is the latest Democratic senator to face violence while challenging Trump’s immigration policies. Last year, California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference while questioning then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Continued Advocacy
After the incident, Kim stated that his eyes and throat were still burning, but he vowed to continue fighting against the “lawlessness and unaccountability perpetuated by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress.” His commitment to advocating for humane treatment of detainees highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy in the United States.
Conclusion
Senator Andy Kim’s experience at Delaney Hall underscores the escalating conflict between federal authorities and those advocating for the rights of detainees. As protests continue and conditions remain dire, the call for accountability and reform in immigration practices grows louder. The incident not only reflects the challenges faced by lawmakers like Kim but also highlights the broader implications of current immigration policies and their enforcement.