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By Emma Marsden
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Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's Los Angeles news conference on Thursday.
Noem held the news conference to address Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which sparked days of protests in Los Angeles and subsequent demonstrations in other cities over the past week.
The homeland security secretary has said Padilla did not identify himself when he arrived at the news conference, but Padilla disputes the claim.
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Why It Matters
Following a wave of ICE raids in Los Angeles on June 6, protests broke out in the city. Some turned to riots as individuals attacked police officers, set vehicles on fire and looted businesses. In response, the Trump administration sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without the consent of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Padilla's removal from Noem's news conference, another instance of discord between state officials and the federal government, has sparked strong backlash from critics of the Trump administration.
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What To Know
Video footage posted to Padilla's account on X showed the senator identifying himself, but he appeared to do so after he began approaching the podium and was blocked by agents.
"I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary," Padilla said before agents pushed him into a hallway, where FBI agents forced him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. The senator was released shortly after.
In an interview with Fox News, Noem said Padilla "did not identify himself and was removed from the room."
"This man burst into the room, started lunging toward the podium, interrupting me and elevating his voice and was stopped," Noem said. "Did not identify himself and was removed from the room. So as soon as he identified himself, you know, appropriate actions were taken."
"I had a conversation with the senator after this," she continued. "We sat down for 10 to 15 minutes and talked about the fact that nobody knew who he was. He didn't say who he was until he already had been lunging forward, and people were trying to detain him for quite a period of time."
Noem added, "He was never arrested. Nobody knew who he was when he came into the room creating a scene."
Padilla said in a video posted on his social media channels: "I introduced myself. 'I'm Senator Alex Padilla, and I have a question.' And it took all of a second for multiple agents to forcibly remove me from the room, to pin me on the ground and handcuff me."
What People Are Saying
The Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement emailed to Newsweek: "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. 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."
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, called the incident "shocking": "I've seen that one clip. It's horrible. It is shocking at every level. It's not the America I know."
Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, wrote on X: "Kristi Noem should resign in disgrace."
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, wrote on X: "Secretary Noem, you should resign. You're head of Homeland Security and you can't take a question from a sitting U.S. Senator at a press conference? This level of abuse of power is shameful, outrageous, and is not doing anything to keep our homeland safe."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X alongside a photo of Padilla on the ground: "Senator Alex Padilla is a good man and principled public servant. The brazen and aggressive manhandling of Senator Padilla by the Trump administration is a sickening disgrace. Anyone who assaulted the Senator should be held accountable. No one is above the law."
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said on the Senate floor: "They say that he didn't identify who he was. And yet watch the video, he clearly states, 'I am Senator Alex Padilla.' They're going to spin this, but I'm begging my Republican colleagues, don't let them do it."
What Happens Next
The event has intensified scrutiny of the DHS and has raised fresh concerns about civil liberties amid the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts.
Padilla wrote on X on Thursday: "If that's what they do to a United States Senator with a question, imagine what they do to farm workers, day laborers, cooks, and the other nonviolent immigrants they are targeting in California and across the country. Or any American that dares to speak up.
"I will not stop fighting to demand accountability on behalf of the people of California."
Update 8/4/25, 4:29 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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