Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pepper-sprayed Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and protesters on Monday in Newark.

Demonstrators gathered outside Delaney Hall, an immigrant detention facility where some inmates are on a hunger strike to protest conditions at the facility.

According to NJ.com, Kim attempted to broker an agreement between agents and protesters to try to defuse the situation. At one point, agents started pushing the crowd back and began firing projectiles containing chemical irritants. The senator reportedly placed himself between the crowd and agents, putting his arms up, as if to say, “Stop.”