Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed at a Homeland Security news conference in Los Angeles, sparking outrage among Congressional Democrats. The incident occurred during protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration raids, which had led to violence, including property destruction. Senate Democrats condemned the action as an “abuse of power,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled Padilla’s behavior “wildly inappropriate.”
Padilla interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she was addressing the media, asking for explanations regarding the administration’s immigration policies. His attempts to speak were cut short as security personnel removed him after he allegedly rushed towards Noem. Commenting on the incident, Rep. Adriano Espaillat described it as an “assault” and criticized the White House’s handling of the situation. Following Padilla’s ejection, House Democrats sought to confront GOP leadership but were denied access, further fueling their frustration.
On the Senate floor, various Democratic senators expressed shock at the incident and questioned the state of democracy under the current administration. Washington Senator Patty Murray stated the situation was “outrageous,” while Padilla later clarified he had not been arrested but emphasized the broader implications of the DHS’s response to questioning.
The White House defended the actions of law enforcement, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson accusing Padilla of embarrassing himself and urging Democrats to focus on the protests rather than his removal. Meanwhile, the government deployed National Guard troops to manage the unrest in Los Angeles, as tensions over immigration enforcement continued to escalate. Despite the confrontational atmosphere, DHS later facilitated a brief meeting between Padilla and Noem.
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