Sen. Padilla Handcuffed at DHS Press Conference

Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed and handcuffed by federal agents at a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles after attempting to question Secretary Kristi Noem about President Trump’s deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protests. Padilla delivered an emotional Senate floor speech condemning the Trump administration’s actions as a tyrannical abuse of power and criticizing Noem’s statement that the military was sent to 'liberate' Los Angeles from its elected leaders. The widely viewed incident has raised concerns about federal overreach and the erosion of democratic norms. Padilla warned that such actions threaten the rights of all Americans and drew parallels to other aggressive federal responses against political figures. The Department of Homeland Security defended its conduct, accusing Padilla of political theater, while calls for transparency and accountability have intensified. The incident has sparked renewed debate over presidential power and the use of military force in domestic affairs.