Senator Alex Padilla Handcuffed and Removed from DHS Press Conference in Los Angeles
POLITICS
Incident During Secretary Noem’s Immigration Briefing
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference on Thursday in Los Angeles, where he was handcuffed and pushed to the ground by federal officers. The incident occurred after Padilla interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as she discussed ongoing deportation efforts in California amid widespread protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Video footage shows Padilla entering the room and attempting to ask questions during Noem’s remarks. As officers pushed him toward the exit, Padilla identifies himself, saying, “I am Senator Alex Padilla,” while pushing back with his body. He tries to raise concerns about the administration’s deportation strategy, referencing “a half a dozen violent criminals” in the ongoing operations before multiple officers overwhelmed him and removed him from the room.
Forceful Removal and Detention
Once outside the press conference room, the video captures Padilla being forced onto his knees, then pushed onto his stomach before officers handcuffed him. A voice off-camera orders no recording in the hallway during this process. The FBI later confirmed Padilla was temporarily detained by the U.S. Secret Service after becoming “disruptive while formal remarks were being delivered.” The FBI noted that Padilla was not wearing his Senate security pin at the time but was positively identified and subsequently released.
DHS Response and Political Tensions
DHS defended the actions of federal officers, accusing Padilla of engaging in “disrespectful political theatre.” The department’s statement claimed Padilla “interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem.” They further stated that Padilla did not comply with repeated commands to back away and that agents believed he posed a threat, prompting the forceful response.
However, video evidence shows Padilla verbally identifying himself as a senator prior to removal, raising questions about the necessity of the aggressive response. DHS added that Secretary Noem met with Padilla after the incident for a 15-minute meeting, an effort to de-escalate the situation.
Padilla’s Reaction and Oversight Intent
Following the incident, Senator Padilla condemned the DHS’s treatment of him and criticized the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement. He expressed concern for immigrant communities, particularly farm workers and day laborers in Los Angeles and across California, emphasizing the stark contrast between the response he received as a U.S. senator and the treatment likely faced by vulnerable populations.
Padilla’s office clarified that the senator was in Los Angeles to fulfill his congressional oversight responsibilities regarding federal operations in the region. They stated he was attending a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Noem’s press conference when he attempted to ask questions. The office accused federal agents of forcibly removing Padilla, pushing him to the ground, and handcuffing him despite his official capacity.
This incident highlights escalating tensions between the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and Democratic lawmakers’ efforts to hold federal agencies accountable. The forceful removal of a sitting senator during a press event has drawn sharp criticism and intensified the national debate over the administration’s approach to immigration and the treatment of elected officials seeking oversight.