California senator wrestled to the ground after questioning immigration policy; DHS Sec. Noem responds
- Sen. Alex Padilla was removed by DHS officers during a press event in Los Angeles.
- FBI agents handcuffed the senator after he raised concerns about immigration enforcement.
- Padilla condemned the treatment, saying it reflects broader mistreatment of immigrants.
- Sec. Kristi Noem denied prior contact with the senator and called the interruption “inappropriate.”
Senator Alex Padilla (D‑Calif.) was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, sparking national outrage and renewed debate over immigration enforcement practices in the United States.
Video circulated widely on X shows multiple individuals—reportedly DHS officers—physically pushing Sen. Padilla out of the event. The footage captures a chaotic moment as FBI agents wrestle the senator to the ground and handcuff him in front of press cameras and shocked attendees.
Watch the Moment It Happened
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.
— Alex Padilla (@AlexPadilla4CA) June 12, 2025
I will not stop… pic.twitter.com/TUgT060yx2
Sen. Padilla had been questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem over the administration’s latest immigration enforcement directives when the confrontation escalated. The event, intended to outline DHS’s regional security plans, quickly turned into a flashpoint over the treatment of public officials and undocumented individuals alike.
Senator Speaks Out
Following the incident, Sen. Padilla issued a strong statement:
“I will not stop fighting to demand accountability on behalf of the people of California.”
Let’s talk about what happened today. pic.twitter.com/5XgvCrXc3p
— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) June 13, 2025
Noem Responds: “I don’t even know the senator”
When asked about the incident during the same press conference, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem distanced herself from the decision to remove Padilla:
“I think everyone in America would agree that was inappropriate.”
Reporter: “Would you please address Senator Padilla’s interruption to your press conference… Will you be pressing charges from what we just witnessed here?”
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 12, 2025
Secretary Kristi Noem: “I don’t even know the senator. He did not request a meeting or to speak with me. So when I leave… pic.twitter.com/233FInB8NF
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