Senator Alex Padilla Handcuffed, Forcibly Removed from DHS Secretary Noem's Press Conference: Video Shows California Senator's Arrest During LA Event
Senator Alex Padilla forcefully removed, handcuffed at Kristi Noem press conference. Video shows Senator Padilla being ejected from Secretary Noem's press conference after questioning her claims about immigration raids. Despite identifying himself, he was physically removed and handcuffed by federal agents
The words “sir, sir” and “hands up, hands up” can be heard in the footage as Padilla is being yanked and shoved.
Unfazed, Secretary Noem continued her press conference despite Senator Padilla's forceful removal
Following his forceful removal from Secretary Noem's press conference, Senator Padilla's defiant words, "Hands off," echoed as he was escorted from the room
Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed, tackled to the ground, and handcuffed by three men—two in bulletproof vests—during Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference. Video footage shows Padilla, who did not resist, being detained after questioning Noem's statements
Video footage shows a staffer recording Sen. Padilla's forceful removal being instructed to stop filming as the Senator was handcuffed on the ground
Senator Alex Padilla Handcuffed, Forcibly Removed from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's Press Conference: Video Shows Shocking Incident
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was handcuffed and forcibly removed from a Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles while conducting congressional oversight of federal operations in California. His office confirmed he was in the federal building for a briefing and attempted to question Secretary Noem before being detained
Senator Alex Padilla forcefully removed, handcuffed by federal agents after attempting to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a Los Angeles press conference. The incident occurred while the Senator was attending a briefing and involved being tackled to the ground
Following his forceful removal and handcuffing at a DHS press conference, Senator Alex Padilla vows to hold the Trump administration accountable for the incident
Senator Alex Padilla forcefully removed, handcuffed at DHS Secretary Noem's press conference. Padilla, attending to ask questions and gather information, was ejected, tackled, and handcuffed despite identifying himself. He reports no arrest or detention, stating he was peacefully seeking answers
Senator Alex Padilla's forceful removal and handcuffing by DHS agents during Secretary Noem's press conference raises serious concerns. Padilla's attempt to question Noem about immigration raids in Los Angeles led to his removal, prompting him to question the administration's treatment of everyday citizens, including farmworkers and day laborers, across California and the nation
Senator Padilla vows accountability after forceful removal and handcuffing at Secretary Noem's press conference. Further statements are expected
Following Senator Padilla's forceful removal and handcuffing at Secretary Noem's press conference, HuffPost contacted Senator Padilla's press office for further comment
The news comes as the Trump administration ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to perform contentious raids across the region. The raids have been met with numerous protests, which have largely been peaceful, across Los Angeles County since Friday.
But on Saturday, President Donald Trump signed a memo authorizing at least 2,000 California National Guard troops to be sent to Los Angeles without a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). The move has not been made by a president in approximately six decades. It was followed by the Pentagon’s decision to deploy an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the region.
The altercation also comes days after Trump and his border czar threatened to arrest California officials, including Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, who get in the way of the raids.
Newsom has filed a lawsuit over the National Guard troops and called for an emergency order to put an end to the Trump administration’s “unlawful militarization of Los Angeles.”
Padilla, who was born and raised in Los Angeles County’s San Fernando Valley to Mexican immigrant parents, has been outspoken about the raids and defending immigrants.
Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, defended the response from federal agents in a statement to HuffPost. She also said that Noem briefly met with Padilla after the spectacle.
“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,” McLaughlin said. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands.”
“U.S. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15-minute meeting,” she added.
Afterward, Noem claimed she didn’t know that Padilla was a senator in the moment, despite Padilla clearly announcing his name and title as the men worked to yank him from the room.
She said his “approach” was not “appropriate at all,” but that they had a “great” conversation after the matter.
Several prominent Democrats swiftly condemned the conflict.
On the Senate floor on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the removal and handcuffing of Padilla was “sickening.”
“What happened reeks of totalitarianism. This is not what democracies do,” Schumer said.
In a post on X, Newsom called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) to “have a spine” and publicly denounce the incident.
“This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now,” he also said, calling Padilla “one of the most decent people” he knows.
In a separate post featuring a picture of a handcuffed Padilla, Newsom said, “If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the move “extremely disturbing” in a post on X.
“Every day that goes by, Donald Trump is making our nation look more and more like a fascist state,” Warren continued.
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