WASHINGTON — Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, was physically removed by security during a press conference on immigration held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday.
Video footage shows a Secret Service agent grabbing Padilla by the jacket and pushing him from the room. Padilla is seen identifying himself, saying, “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” while trying to catch his breath. He attempts to re-enter before being blocked by a second officer. Outside the room, he can be heard yelling, “Hands off!”
Another video posted online shows three officers forcing Padilla to the ground. One of the officers involved was wearing an FBI vest. He was then handcuffed.
Senator Padilla releases statement
Padilla’s office released a statement saying he was at the building for a military briefing and entered Noem’s press event, the Associated Press reported. The statement said, “He tried to ask the secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.”
Padilla has previously criticized immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. In a recent post on X, he wrote, “Trump isn’t targeting criminals in his mass deportation agenda, he is terrorizing communities, breaking apart families and putting American citizens in harm’s way.”
The Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of security agents in a statement: “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.”
The department added that agents “thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately.” It also confirmed that Secretary Noem later met with Padilla in a private 15-minute meeting.
Several members of Congress viewed the video footage. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., said she texted Padilla to show support and shared the video with Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D.
“I think he was as shocked as we all were,” Blunt Rochester said. “So, hopefully we will come together as one voice.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the video “utterly revolting” and said, “There should be consequences.”
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