U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed from DHS Press Briefing in Los Angeles

Tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S. took a dramatic turn Thursday after California Senator Alex Padilla was forcefully removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference led by Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.
The incident unfolded at a federal building in the city, where Padilla attempted to question Noem about recent immigration operations that have sparked controversy across California. As he tried to introduce himself, saying, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” two men—later identified as FBI agents—grabbed him in front of reporters and physically removed him from the room.

Footage released by Padilla’s staff showed the Senator being pushed to the ground just outside the venue. The video quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage and raising questions about the use of force on a sitting member of Congress.
In a statement following the incident, DHS claimed Padilla had “lunged” at Secretary Noem, describing his actions as a security breach. Assistant DHS Secretary Trisha McLaughlin defended the response, asserting that the Senator had failed to follow protocol by not wearing his official Senate identification pin or announcing himself formally to security officers.
“The Secret Service believed the Senator was a threat due to his sudden approach, and acted accordingly,” McLaughlin wrote on X (formerly Twitter). She added that despite the incident, Padilla and Secretary Noem later met privately for 15 minutes.
Secretary Noem later described the Senator’s approach as “inappropriate,” insisting he had not scheduled a meeting and disrupted a live press event.
California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly condemned the incident, calling it “outrageous, dictatorial and shameful.”
“This is the kind of conduct we expect in authoritarian regimes, not in the United States,” Newsom said in a statement. “President Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.”
The confrontation adds to rising political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in California and raises broader concerns about the relationship between federal security agencies and elected officials.