On Monday, Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, reported being pepper-sprayed as protests erupted outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, in a confrontation involving ICE officials.
Online footage captured volunteers attempting to rinse Kim’s eyes while he applied an ice pack. Additional clips depicted Kim addressing ICE agents nearby a detained individual before speaking to the crowd outside.
Kim recounted a charged atmosphere at the facility, where approximately 300 detainees were protesting what advocates describe as inadequate conditions through a hunger and work strike.
In a post on X, Kim detailed the situation: “Detainees protesting the lack of due process, the disgusting food and poor treatment while their families and advocates stood outside calling for help.” He criticized ICE for responding to concerns with increased force rather than dialogue.
The senator claimed to have witnessed ICE officers subduing demonstrators while pepper balls were discharged into the crowd. Kim described his experiences as disgraceful, stating that Delaney Hall symbolizes a systemic failure requiring closure to prevent future issues.
Kim participated in the protest alongside fellow New Jersey Democrats, including Governor Mikie Sherrill and Representatives Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Nellie Pou. Lawmakers labeled their presence as an oversight visit, although they encountered difficulties accessing the facility.
No individuals were directly struck by pepper ball projectiles.
On May 25, 2026, rioters obstructed law enforcement from exiting the ICE facility. Officers issued multiple lawful verbal commands for rioters to clear the area. Rioters refused to follow law enforcement commands… https://t.co/gNACHGgItm
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 26, 2026
In a conversation with the New Jersey Globe, Kim stated that the pepper spray affected his ability to breathe and mentioned that officers employed batons to disperse the crowd.
“What we saw here is unfortunately just a reflection of what we see all over the country,” he told NJ.com, expressing his disappointment.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that after contacting Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Kim was eventually permitted entry. However, it remains unclear whether Sherrill or the other officials regained access.
Contradicting protest claims, Mullin dismissed the allegations, asserting that no hunger strike occurred and labeling the Democrats’ visit as a mere “political stunt.”
Protests outside Delaney Hall began on Friday, initiated by organizer Gabriela Soto, whose husband has been detained in the facility since February. Soto emphasized the humanity of those inside, stating, “In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity.”
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