As President Trump ramps up immigration raids to locate illegal immigrants in major cities, pastors are finding themselves in the cross hairs. According to Religion News Service, Reverend Jorge Bautista had joined dozens of demonstrators who had gathered at the entrance of a narrow bridge to Coast Guard Island. The demonstrators blocked entry to the base, where 100 US Customs and Border Patrol agents were scheduled to set up. When law enforcement vehicles arrived, they attempted to get the group to disperse from blocking the entrance. RNS stated stun grenades were shot into the crowd and Rev. Bautista was hit in the face with a pepper round. Bautista states his intention was “never to obstruct the road.” “I found myself in front of one of the vehicles, not intending to block it, but to help calm the situation,” insisted. He claims he yelled “We come in peace!” as a masked agent raised his weapon. Bautista believes the agent purposefully aimed at his face.

According to RNS, Reverend Bautista was the second pastor to be hit in the face with a pepper shot in six weeks. Reverend David Black of First Presbyterian Church in Chicago was struck by a pepper round on September 19. Black is suing the Trump administration for unlawful force. A U.S. district court judge temporarily blocked the use of some crowd-control measures by federal agents on October 9. Rev. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, the General Minister of United Church of Christ condemned the instances of pastors hit by pepper shots. “The escalation of aggression against peaceful protesters is a sign of the times, another reflection of the cruelty directed at people and lack of regard this current administration has for the Constitution and the law. This is the third identified clergy to experience pepper spray in the face. No one is safe from tyranny,” staid Thompson.

The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed accusations of excessive force, claiming that the protesters “swarmed, attacked, and refused to move out of the way,” obstructing law enforcement. A spokesperson insists that the agents “provided ample notice to these individuals to clear the street and used appropriate force to clear the area for the safety of law enforcement.” Representative Nancy Pelosi has stated that California law enforcement may step in and arrest federal agents who violate Californians’ rights. “California law protects communities and prevents federal agents from taking certain actions here that we have witnessed in other states,” wrote Pelosi. “While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them.”