ICE facing backlash over statement after hitting priest with pepper ball and ‘laughing’

The assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security has released a statement after a video of an ICE officer 'throwing a pepper ball at a priest’s' head' has gone viral.

And it's safe to say people are not impressed with the response.

For those not in the loop, the video, which was reportedly filmed last month, shows protesters standing outside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, a Chicago suburb.

The group were shouting towards three agents who were standing on the roof of the building, protesting against Donald Trump's anti-immigration agenda.

One of the officers then fired a pepper ball towards a pastor who was on the ground - who then fell to the floor and reached up to his head as others came to his aid.

Fox 32 Chicago has identified the man as Pastor David Black of the First Presbyterian Church in the Woodlawn neighbourhood.

ICE are facing backlash after a video of a priest 'being shot at with a pepper ball' has gone viral (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

And now, as per the Independent, he is suing the Trump administration alongside other protesters and reporters, accusing the administration of threatening their First Amendment rights and religious freedoms, describing 'a pattern of extreme brutality' aiming to 'silence the press and civilians'.

As the video continues to do the rounds on social media, the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin has released a statement on Twitter.

She quote-tweeted the video and wrote: "This footage is from almost a month ago. What this clipped video doesn’t show is that these agitators were blocking an ICE vehicle from leaving the federal facility—impeding operations.

"Over and over again, law enforcement ordered these agitators to move off of federal property so the vehicle could move.

"Law enforcement verbally warned these agitators that they would use force if they did not move and stop impeding operations. They did not comply."

McLaughlin added: "Shortly after, rioters began throwing rocks, bottles and launching fireworks at the law enforcement officers on the roof.

"At the time of this incident, this facility held criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals.

The video and ensuing statement have sparked outrage online (MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND/Getty Images)

"Obstructing law enforcement puts officers, detainees and the public at risk. If you are obstructing law enforcement you can expect to be met with force."

She ended the message with: And, as an aside, this is the same “pastor” who flipped @Sec_Noem and our team the bird when we were there last week."

The Twitter account Pop Crave then went on to share the response, which has prompted backlash online.

One person penned: "How was he obstructing the ICE agents standing on the roof" while a second added: "How is a priest standing outside of a building on a public sidewalk obstructing law enforcement?"

And a third demanded: "Praying isn’t obstruction that response looks like abuse of power. Accountability now."

"They were on a roof he was on the ground with everyone else. It was targeted and there was no obstruction," agreed another.

While someone else angrily wrote: "Obstruction is a physical act. He was not obstructing. Absolutely abhorrent defence of police brutality."