ICE agents pepper-sprayed protesters, pushed demonstrators back with batons and used an armed vehicle to deter the crowd amid continuing clashes outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark Monday, according to local officials and video from the scene.

The protests continued into their third day Tuesday, with demonstrators posting barriers outside the detention center, seeking to block vehicles they believed might be used to transfer detainees out of the center amid a hunger strike that began Friday. Demonstrators have been gathering since Sunday, often joined by local officials including several members of Congress and Gov. Mikie Sherrill, most of whom were denied access to the inside of the building over Memorial Day weekend.

An open letter signed by nearly 300 detainees earlier this month said immigrants there were living in poor conditions and being denied due process rights by the immigration justice system. They cited a lack of access to healthcare and poor food they described as torturous.

The demonstrations have led to several clashes with ICE personnel. Video and photos posted by NJ.com show Sen. Andy Kim’s eyes being washed out after he was exposed to pepper spray in a confrontation between demonstrators and ICE Monday. In a social media post, the senator said detainees were “protesting the lack of due process, the disgusting food and poor treatment while their families and advocates stood outside calling for help.”

“Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire,” Kim wrote on social media. “Civilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd. This is more of the same lawlessness we’ve seen elsewhere around the country.”

Kathy O’Leary, New Jersey Coordinator for Catholic group Pax Christi, was among the organizers outside of the facility on Monday. She said she saw ICE attack the crowd with pepper balls, and throw some people to the ground.

“The building there looks peaceful from the outside, but it is in and of itself the most violent thing, right? Kidnapping our neighbors, holding them there under these really horrible conditions,” she said. “And what we saw yesterday was just that, that violence spilling out onto the streets.”

The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement late Monday night, said no individuals were struck directly by pepper-ball projectiles.

It said officers issued “multiple lawful verbal commands for rioters” to disperse, but demonstrators obstructed the center’s exit routes. DHS said its agents used the minimum force necessary to protect themselves, the public and federal property

Sherrill said on social media she was denied access Monday.

“The people being held there are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who deserve to be treated with dignity,” Sherrill wrote on social media Monday. “My request to access the facility was denied this morning, raising even more questions about what they are trying to hide from public view.”

Sunday, demonstrators at Delaney Hall had sought to block the transfer of Martin Soto, a Peruvian immigrant detained at Delaney Hall since February whose wife has been among those organizing protests outside. Immigrant groups have described Soto as one of the organizers of the hunger strike.

The Department of Homeland Security said in an earlier statement to Gothamist that “agitators” blocked a vehicle’s path out of the facility Sunday as it tried to transfer Soto, but ICE “successfully dispersed approximately 70 agitators” later in the day and remove barricades to transfer him to the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility.

Rep. Rob Menendez told WNYC’s Morning Edition he had been at the center for hours, trying to get access inside to speak with Soto. ICE was “intent on moving Marteen by any means possible,” he said.

Organizers reached by Gothamist early Tuesday said they hadn’t yet seen other transfers that day, but anticipated more would happen soon. O’Leary said there were several transport vans outside of Delaney, and she expected protesters would again try to stop them from leaving the facility with detainees.

Menendez said he was kept waiting for 18 hours without being let into Delaney Hall this weekend, before eventually meeting with Soto at the Elizabeth center. Federal law and policy described in ICE guidance as recently as last year says members of Congress may visit detention facilities without advance notice, but the Trump administration has been seeking to curb that access. DHS said statement visitation to Delaney Hall had been suspended as a security measure amid the protests.

Kim told InsiderNJ.com he was eventually allowed in after speaking to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Menendez told WNYC Tuesday he expected to head back to Delaney Hall Tuesday.

Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, told Gothamist this weekend his organization had been in contact with Soto’s attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s office, and assured Soto wouldn’t be moved — hours before DHS later said the transfer had indeed taken place. Sinha cited a court order issued in March, when Martin challenged his detention, saying it barred his transfer. The order, reviewed by Gothamist, appears to restrict ICE from moving him out of New Jersey, but does not specify which center he must be kept at.

DHS and ICE have not answered messages this weekend seeking details on why Soto was transferred. The DHS statement described him as charged with assault, but did not provide any further details on that incident or say what agency issued the charge. The Department of Justice referred questions on his transfer to ICE.

Menendez told WNYC he believes many of the people detained at Delaney Hall don’t pose a threat to the public, including Martin: “Martin should be with his two young children and his pregnant wife,” the congressman said.

He said the people inside are struggling with a lack of ventilation, a lack of access to healthcare and food that often doesn’t meet individuals’ dietary restriction requirements.

“All of these things result in a very difficult environment that I believe result in inhumane conditions,” he said.

This story has been updated with more information. Michael Sol Warren contributed reporting.