Why Was Senator Alex Padilla Handcuffed?
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently made headlines after being forcibly removed from a press conference led by Homeland Security officers of Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, CA. Padilla, who was attempting to question Noem about immigration raids, identified himself as a U.S. senator but was handcuffed and escorted out by security personnel. The Department of Homeland Security claimed he was perceived as a threat and failed to comply with orders, although Padilla asserts he identified himself. axios.com+5apnews.com+5thedailybeast.com+5
Following the incident, Padilla delivered an emotional speech on the Senate floor, denouncing President Trump as a “tyrant” and accusing him of abusing presidential power. He criticized the administration’s crackdown on Democrats probing immigration policies and condemned Secretary Noem’s comments about liberating Los Angeles. Padilla emphasized the importance of protecting civil liberties and questioned the erosion of those freedoms.cadenaser.com+2axios.com+2apnews.com+2
The incident sparked widespread condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, with some calling for Secretary Noem’s resignation. Padilla has vowed to continue demanding accountability for immigration enforcement actions and to stand firm in defending civil liberty.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Actual Incident:
Please refer to the wikipedia page on facts of the incident, in italics, below:
On June 12, 2025, Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference in the Wilshire Federal Building,[59][60] held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her statement on Los Angeles protests about ICE operations. He was in the building for a briefing he had arranged with General Gregory Guillot about the administration’s plan to use Guantanamo Bay to hold undocumented migrants. This was scheduled for 10:30, but after clearing security and being assigned an escort from the National Guard, and a FBl escort, he was informed that the briefing was delayed due to the press conference in a nearby room. He asked to attend it, and was seated behind the press reporters and cameras.[61][62]
Noem repeatedly blamed California state governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, then about six minutes into her statement said the Republican admiration was going to “liberate the city from the socialist and burdensome leadership that this mayor and this governor have placed on this country”.[61][62] At that point, Padilla interrupted the press conference by walking towards the podium and saying “Madame Secretary, I want to know why you insist on exaggerating” but was blocked by security. While being forcefully removed by Secret Service agents, he said, “I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary” while being pushed out of the room and into a hallway, where several agents held him face-down on the floor and he was handcuffed by FBI Police. He was briefly detained and said that he was released after Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to Noem, ran over yelling “Let him go! Let him go!”
Padilla told reporters outside the building that his question was about ICE detaining immigrants without criminal records.[63] Padilla said later that day that he and his Judiciary Subcommittee colleagues had repeatedly asked Homeland Security about its “increasingly extreme immigration enforcement actions”, without getting a response. Noem said she had a “great” conversation with Padilla after the incident but that his approach was “something that I don’t think was appropriate at all”.[59][60][64][65][66][67]
–———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
It was unfortunate that CA state senator Alex Padilla was arrested during this politically charged climate. It appeared as though there were some contributing factors to the occurrence of this unfortunate event:
- Senator Alex Padilla did not wear his pin that would have identified him as a state senator. Shouting out “I am Senator Alex Padilla.” would not be sufficient to identify Senator Padilla as a senator because recently a Minnesota state representative, Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark were tragically assassinated by the alleged suspect who posed as a police officer. We are no longer living in a high trust society.
- Senator Padilla did not sit in the area designated for audience and/or reporters.
- Senator Padilla did not wait until the end of the press conference to ask questions during Q&A session. Instead, Senator Padilla was interrupting the presentation by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Recently there had been multiple violent incidences against lawmakers or law enforcers. Therefore Homeland Security officers were on high alerts toward any one who is /was not following orders.
- Treatment received by CA Senator Padilla was the same as any other American citizens who would have interrupted a press conference and shouted statement and questions at the Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary. In a democracy, one would expect equal treatment for government official and average citizens alike.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of the video blow, in italics, below:
Sen. Alex Padilla was removed from a news conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in the video published on June 12, 2025, by NBCLA, as “Sen. Alex Padilla was removed from a news conference with DHS Secretary Noem“, below:
Description of the video blow, in italics, below:
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered an emotional speech on the Senate floor about being forcefully removed from a DHS press conference in Los Angeles. “You’ve seen the video. I was pushed and pulled, struggled to maintain my balance. I was forced to the ground. First on my knees and then flat on my chest, and was handcuffed and marched down a hallway repeatedly asking, ‘Why am I being detained?'” Padilla said. “Not once did they tell me why. I pray you never have a moment like this.” BACKSTORY: The confrontation on June 12 was caught on video as dozens of journalists attended the Los Angeles press conference to hear DHS Secretary Kristi Noem discuss the recent raids and protests across Southern California. Padilla appeared to interrupt Noem as she was speaking. She had not opened the press conference to questions at that time. Padilla identified himself and started asking a question when two to three men started pushing him towards the door, in the video published on June 17, 2025, by LiveNOW from FOX, as “WATCH: CA Sen. Alex Padilla speaks on forceful removal from Kristi Noel news conference“, below:
Description of the video blow, in italics, below:
US Sen. Alex Padilla of California said he had been attempting to ask a question when he was forcefully removed from a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, in the video published on June 12, 2025, by CNN, as “US senator forcefully removed, handcuffed at DHS event“, below:
Be sure to view Josh Campbell’s analysis of the incident starting at 5:30 of the video below:
We are living in a very politically charged time now. It would be wise for any one, elected official or average American citizen, to always try to remain calm, think before taking any action, and finally, be patient and be respectful toward those from a different political party.
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
We Need Fair Value of Solar
~Let’s Help One Another~
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
www.kiva.org/team/sunisthefuture
www.facebook.com/sunisthefuture
