Sen. Andy Kim describes being affected by pepper spray during protest at detention center

NEWARK, N.J. (WPVI) -- Sen. Andy Kim on Tuesday recounted the moment he was caught in a burst of pepper spray during a protest outside a federal immigration detention facility, saying he was trying to calm tensions between demonstrators and federal agents.

"My eyes were hurting, my throat was burning," Kim said, recalling the confrontation outside Delaney Hall in Newark.

Video circulating on television and social media shows the senator having his eyes flushed after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed pepper spray.

The incident happened on Monday as Kim and a group of demonstrators protested conditions for immigrants held at the facility.

Homeland Security officials said protesters blocked an exit and refused orders to move. Kim said he tried to intervene.

"I asked them to give me some time to see if we could find some type of arrangement that would allow for this to happen peacefully," he said. "I immediately ran over trying to position myself between the ICE agents and the crowd."

Protesters have accused the facility of providing inadequate treatment to detainees.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who also joined demonstrators outside Delaney Hall, issued a statement saying, "The people inside Delaney Hall are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and members of our community. In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity."

The Department of Homeland Security defended its operations, saying in a statement that "all detainees are provided with three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries."

Sherrill was denied access to the facility on Monday, and Kim initially was as well. After eventually being allowed inside, Kim said he was troubled by what he witnessed, including the moment a detainee showed him milk that was spoiled to the point that it was congealed. He also had conversations with detainees.

"I met with a pregnant woman who said she's not getting the care she needs. I met with a man who has stage three lung cancer and said he's not able to get medical care," he said.

Both Sherrill and Kim are calling for Delaney Hall to be shut down.

DHS maintains that detainees have access to adequate medical care, adding in a statement, "This includes medical, dental, and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. For many illegal aliens, this is the best healthcare they have received their entire lives."

Kim said he is also concerned about whether immigrants are being denied due process.

He plans to introduce amendments and legislation addressing detention issues as Congress continues to debate immigration policy.