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A US immigration agent has testified he could feel through his protective gear the impact of a deli item thrown at him by a DC demonstrator, who has gone on trial for criminal charge.

Federal border agent Gregory Lairmore told the jury the snack "shattered all over him" and he "noticed the vegetables and yellow sauce" on his work clothing.

Both legal teams disputes that Sean Dunn, 37, did in fact lob profanities and a deli-style sandwich at authorities deployed by President Donald Trump to monitor the nation's capital in late summer.

The incident was recorded on video and went viral, making Mr Dunn a symbol of opposition in Washington DC to the administration.

Federal attorneys at first tried to obtain serious criminal counts against the defendant, but a judicial committee refused to indict him.

The administration's assignment of armed forces to the federal district this season sparked outrage from some of the city's residents, who saw it as a politicisation of the troops.

Per legal filings, Mr Dunn approached a law enforcement team at about late evening on 10 August, referring to them "fascists" and exclaiming: "What is your purpose? Your presence is unwanted in my city!"

The legal proceeding observed a re-enactment from the officer on the court date as he gave evidence against Mr Dunn.

"I could feel it through my body armor," he stated of the sandwich's impact, adding that an aromatic fragment hung from his communication device and condiment marked his shirt.

The defendant's attorney, his legal representative, argued in her opening statement that hurling the deli product was a "innocent action that did not, could not, result in harm".

But state lawyer the state's representative said the defendant must be facing consequences.

"Regardless of identity, you should not throwing stuff at others because you're angry," the attorney declared.

Following the reported incident became public, the defendant was dismissed from his position as a paralegal in the Department of Justice.