Mullin slams Andy Kim over ICE pepper-spray chaos ‘Shouldn’t have been there’

WASHINGTON, DC: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Wednesday, May 27, sharply criticized Sen Andy Kim after the New Jersey Democrat was caught in pepper spray during a chaotic protest outside an ICE detention facility in Newark.

Speaking during a Trump cabinet meeting, Mullin accused Democratic lawmakers of siding with demonstrators over immigration enforcement and suggested Kim had no reason to be present at the confrontation in the first place.

Mullin blasts Democrats over ICE protests

During the cabinet meeting, Mullin defended conditions inside the immigration facility while attacking protesters and Democratic officials who gathered outside the center during Memorial Day demonstrations.

The Homeland Security secretary dismissed claims of widespread mistreatment inside the detention site and argued that only a small number of detainees had refused meals over complaints related to food preferences.

“It shows these radical left Democrats’ priorities,” Mullin said while criticizing lawmakers who joined the protests.

He accused demonstrators of defending people detained on serious criminal allegations.

Mullin also expressed outrage that the protests occurred during Memorial Day weekend, calling the timing “very frustrating.”

According to Mullin, local law enforcement failed to adequately assist federal officers as protesters blocked entrances and exits around the detention center.

Referring directly to Kim’s complaint about being hit by crowd-control agents, Mullin blamed Andy Kim for being in the wrong place.

“And then you have one of the senators complain because he got splattered with a pepper ball,” Mullin said. “I’m sorry, you probably shouldn’t have been there.”

Mullin also mocked complaints about food conditions inside the facility, saying detainees unhappy with meals could “go back to their country and get whatever food they want,” while insisting federal authorities were providing proper sanitation and nutrition.

Andy Kim gets pepper-sprayed

Kim was among several protesters gathered outside the Newark ICE facility amid growing demonstrations over alleged conditions inside the detention center, including reports that some detainees had launched a hunger strike.

Video from the scene showed Kim standing between protesters and federal agents with his hands raised as tensions intensified around an ICE vehicle convoy attempting to move through the crowd.

Describing the incident afterward, Kim said he attempted to de-escalate the confrontation before pepper spray and pepper balls were deployed.

“I tried my best to get between the ICE agents and the crowd,” Kim said, accusing the convoy of attempting to “plow through the crowd,” which he called “absolutely so dangerous.”

Kim clarified that he was not directly struck by a pepper ball but said he suffered irritation from the chemical agents used during the clash.

“Certainly between the pepper balls and then the pepper spray that was happening, I’d certainly had an irritation and burning sensation in my eyes and my throat,” he said.