Tensions over federal immigration enforcement reached a boiling point on Thursday when U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly ejected from a press conference hosted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a federal building in Los Angeles.
The dramatic incident unfolded in front of journalists, as Padilla attempted to pose questions about recent immigration raids that have sparked protests across the city.
“I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Padilla announced as two security agents began to shove and push him from the room.
A video recorded by a member of Padilla’s staff outside the press conference showed the senator being tackled to the ground by agents wearing bulletproof vests marked with FBI insignia, who then handcuffed him. Padilla, a Democrat representing California in the U.S. Senate, did not resist.
As the camera rolled, a voice was heard warning the staffer, “There’s no recording allowed out here,” moments before the footage abruptly ended as someone blocked the lens.
Despite the incident being captured on video, the Department of Homeland Security claimed Padilla’s behavior was aggressive. “Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,” wrote DHS Assistant Secretary Trisha McLaughlin on social media.
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She defended the agents’ actions, saying, “@SecretService thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately,” and added that Noem and Padilla met privately for 15 minutes following the event.
Noem herself characterized the senator’s approach as “inappropriate” and told reporters afterward that Padilla had not made any formal request to speak with her.
The incident sparked swift and fierce backlash from Democratic leaders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the episode as “outrageous, dictatorial and shameful,” adding, “Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also voiced strong opposition, saying, “He is a sitting United States Senator. This administration’s violent attacks on our city must end.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation, calling the event “despicable” and warning, “(It) reeks of totalitarianism. This is not what democracies do. Senator Padilla was there legitimately in that building to ask questions of what’s going on in California, which everybody wants to know answers to.”
The press conference came amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles, where a controversial immigration crackdown ordered by the Trump administration has triggered days of protest. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have turned violent, with instances of vehicles being torched and rocks thrown at law enforcement.
In response, the White House deployed 4,700 federal troops to the city, despite strong objections from both local leaders and the LAPD, who argued that they were equipped to manage the unrest, which had been contained to a few areas.
The forceful removal of a sitting senator from a press briefing has now added a fresh layer of controversy to the federal government’s handling of the situation in California.
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