California Sen. Alex Padilla Forced to the Ground and Handcuffed for Asking Question at Homeland Security Event: Watch
California Sen. Alex Padilla was physically removed then handcuffed during a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12. He was quickly escorted out of the room after attempting to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question.
Noem, 53, was holding a press conference to address the ongoing protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies and the administration's aggressive response.
Padilla — who succeeded Kamala Harris in 2021 to become California's first Latino senator — has been an outward Trump critic and directed a recent post on X at the federal immigration raids in Los Angeles.
'Trump isn't targeting criminals in his mass deportation agenda," he wrote, "he is terrorizing communities, breaking apart families and putting American citizens in harm's way.'
Video footage that quickly circulated online on Thursday shows officers dragging Padilla out of the room and into the hallway after he says, 'I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.'
The footage then captures Padilla, 52, pushed down with his face against the ground and handcuffed by officers wearing FBI vests. Padilla can be heard saying, 'Hands off!' during the incident.
Padilla's office issued a statement shortly afterward, saying, 'He tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground, and handcuffed.'
The office also clarified to the public that he was not still being held by authorities.
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Padilla later released his own statement, saying, "We have repeatedly asked the Trump Administration for answers on the deployment of military forces and the needless escalation in Los Angeles over the last week — and have gotten limited to no information."
"I attended Secretary Noem's press conference in hopes of getting some answers," he continued. "After identifying myself and trying to ask a question, I was aggressively pushed out of the room, forced to the ground, and handcuffed."
Padilla concluded: "If that's what they do to a United States Senator with a question, imagine what they can do to any American that dares to speak up."
The Department of Homeland Security responded to backlash from the video on X, saying, "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. Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers' repeated commands.
Various politicians and members of his community have voiced their support for Senator Padilla.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the video on X, calling this incident 'outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful.' He continued saying, 'Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.'
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which Padilla belongs to, called the situation "unacceptable, full stop' and demanded 'a full investigation and consequences for every official involved in this assault against a sitting US senator."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, 'Watching this video sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator, Senator Padilla.'
'We need immediate answers to what the hell went on,' Schumer added.
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