Sen. Padilla Forcibly Removed at LA DHS Event

Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed, handcuffed, and briefly detained by Secret Service agents during a Homeland Security press conference led by Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles as he questioned her about recent ICE raids. Video evidence shows Padilla identifying himself as a senator, contradicting officials' claims that he failed to do so. The Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Noem defended the officers’ actions, alleging Padilla had not complied with commands and 'lunged' toward Noem, though this is disputed by video and witnesses. Padilla was not arrested or formally detained and later met privately with Noem. The incident sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers, who called it an attack on democratic norms and demanded an investigation. It occurred amid heightened tensions in California over federal immigration enforcement and the Trump administration's military deployment in Los Angeles.