California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla, known as a harsh critic of the Donald Trump administration's immigration policies, was forcibly removed and handcuffed while trying to ask a question to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her press conference in Los Angeles. The incident shocked his colleagues from Capitol Hill to California.
A video that quickly spread on social media shows Padilla being physically removed by several officials. In an attempt to get past them, he shouted: "I'm Senator Alec Padilla. I have questions for the secretary. Hands off!", reports the Guardian.
After the incident, Padilla told reporters that he was "immediately and forcefully removed from the room" and handcuffed, but was not arrested or detained. As the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Security, Padilla said he had been trying to get answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding "increasingly extreme measures in immigration enforcement," but had never received answers to his questions.
"If this is the way this administration responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine how they treat farm workers, cooks, day laborers, all across Los Angeles, California and the entire country. We will hold this administration accountable," he said.
In an official statement, DHS accused the senator of choosing "disrespect through political theater" and failing to identify himself when he interrupted the conference, and of "abruptly walking toward" Noem while she was speaking.
"Mr. Padilla was repeatedly ordered to stand down, and he did not do so. The Secret Service considered him an attacker and officers responded in accordance with procedures. Secretary Noem later met with Senator Padilla and held a fifteen-minute meeting," a DHS statement posted on the X network said.
"Senator Padilla is currently in Los Angeles performing his duty as congressional oversight officer of federal institutions in California. He was in the federal building for a briefing with General Gilo and attended Secretary Noem's conference. He attempted to ask the Secretary a question, but federal agents forcibly removed him, wrestled him to the floor, and handcuffed him. He has not been detained, and we are working to gather additional information," Padilla's office said.
"When I'm done here, I'll find him, we'll talk and find out exactly what his problems were. I think all Americans would say this was not an appropriate way to communicate. If someone wants a civilized dialogue – especially a public official – they should come forward and talk," Noem said, when asked about the incident.
A Fox News reporter who witnessed the incident confirmed that Padilla was tackled to the floor, handcuffed and temporarily detained by the FBI. Footage released by NBC shows multiple officers holding Padilla to the ground.
Democratic Party officials condemned the incident, calling it a "brutal treatment" of an elected senator.
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