“If so, this Administration still senator That asks a question … Imagine How are they treating the field workersto the chefsto the day laborers of the Community of Los Angelesof all California And from all over the country, ”he said Padilla at an improvised press conference after the incident.
The Democratic Senator explained that he and several federal legislators have been requesting more information and responses to Internal Security Department (DHS), directed by Noem, on the increasingly Extreme migratory controlbut the answers they have received have been “minimal” or in some cases they have not been obtained.
He assured that he was in a federal installation of Los Angeles To receive a report from a general when he knew that on the same floor Noem offered a press conference with other federal agencies, about migratory raids and arrests in the demonstrations in rejection of the operations of the Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE), so he wanted to ask the high official directly.
“I was there peaceably. At one point I had a question and began to ask it. Almost immediately they took me by force from the room. They forced me to throw myself to the ground and they handcuffed me, ”said Padilla, who made history by being the first Hispanic chosen to the Senate by California.
A video showed how Padillahigh member of the Senate Immigration Judicial Subcommittee, he was pushed despite identifying himself as a US senator and asking to take his hands off.
In other images you could see how the legislator was thrown with violence to the floor in the hallway outside the conference and handcuff.
The DHS said in a statement that Padilla – who was not identified as a senator but as lord – “did not comply with the repeated orders of the Secret Service officerswho thought it was a attacker And they acted as corresponded”, This despite hearing how the Democrat was identified.
“We will demand accounts from this administration,” said the legislator, who was “exercising his right to make the congressional supervision of the operations of the Federal Government”, According to his office.
¿What will they do with you?
Breaking: California Democratic Senator @Alexpadilla4ca Just Crashd DHS Secretary Noem’s Press Conference in the and was forcibly removed. pic.twitter.com/q2suwiimam
– Bill Melugin (@billmelugin_) June 12, 2025
Although Padilla He was not arrestedtoday’s episode occurs after several threats by the White House to arrest democratic leaders in Californiaafter protests for raids and manifestations.
On June 8, Tom Homan, known as the ‘Tsar of the Border’ designated by Trumpthreatened to arrest the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, and the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, “if they exceed” in their competences.
For its part, Newsom He challenged Homin to do so: “Is a hard guy. Why don’t you? He knows where to find me. Those bluffs are exhausting. So, Tom, Arrestame. Come on! ”Said the governor in an interview with MSNBC.
The president supported Homan’s statements ensuring that “the officials who obstruct the law and order“They would have to face the judges and added:“ I would do it if it were Tom. I think it’s great. ”
After the events on Thursday, Newsom said in an X message: “If they can handcuff a American senator For asking a question, imagine what you will do with you, ”said the governor accompanied by a photo that showed three agents about him democrat on the ground.
For her part, the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, described the incident of “abominable and outrageous“
The local official, also democrathighlighted in an X post that Padilla He is a senator of the United States in exercise and demanded that they end: “The violent attacks of this government against our city.”
Noem, which was present in Los Angeles To defend the migratory raids, which have unleashed the protests, he said he had no concerted appointment with Padilla to listen about his concerns and described the entry of the senator as “inappropriate“
The incident is shown as another of the episodes between the battle that frees the Executive American against Californiathe most populous state in the country classified as the fourth economy of the world, which is dominated for the Democrats.