DHS Faces Backlash After Senator Padilla Ejected on Camera \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Sen. Alex Padilla’s forceful removal from a DHS press event sparked immediate bipartisan concern and emotional speeches on the Senate floor. Video of the incident spread rapidly, igniting Democratic outrage and calls for investigation. DHS defended its agents, while Republicans offered mixed responses.
Quick Looks
- Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Video shows officers dragging Padilla out, pinning him to the ground outside the briefing.
- Senate Democrats watched and shared the footage, many expressing shock and fury.
- Republicans reacted cautiously or declined to comment until more facts emerged.
- DHS claimed Padilla interrupted the event and failed to identify himself.
- Padilla was asking questions about immigration raids in his home state.
- Democrats called the incident a violation of civil liberties and democratic norms.
- Sen. Cory Booker called it “a test” of Senate integrity and values.
- Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, and others demanded a full investigation.
- The event further deepens partisan tensions amid broader immigration enforcement controversy.
Deep Look
A political firestorm erupted in Washington on Thursday after videos went viral showing U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) being forcibly removed from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in California. The incident quickly cascaded into a full-blown Senate floor controversy, drawing sharp rebukes from Democratic lawmakers and silence or caution from most Republicans, as the fallout threatens to deepen partisan divisions over immigration enforcement and civil liberties.
The footage — which circulated widely online and among senators gathered in the chamber for votes — captured a chaotic and jarring scene. Padilla is seen attempting to ask Secretary Noem questions about federal immigration raids taking place in California. Within seconds, a member of Noem’s Secret Service security detail grabs the senator by the jacket, shoves him from the room, and brings him to the ground outside. Later video shows Padilla pinned to the floor, shouting “Hands off!” as several officers restrain him.
Cellphones are typically banned on the Senate floor, but the moment the video surfaced, members discreetly began sharing it. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) said she showed it to as many colleagues as she could, including Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who was reportedly stunned by the footage. “He seemed as shocked as we were,” she noted.
The emotional response was immediate and intense. Democrats, already politically battered in the wake of President Trump’s return to power and a unified Republican Congress, unleashed a torrent of condemnation. Many canceled their usual flights home for the weekend and remained on the Senate floor into the evening to deliver impassioned speeches.
“This is a crossroads,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), his voice rising as he addressed the chamber. “A member of this body was driven to his knees. This is not just about Alex Padilla. It’s about the future of this institution.”
Veteran lawmakers were visibly shaken. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said it was the closest she had come to tears on the Senate floor in over three decades. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) admitted she was “shaking with anger.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) held up a pocket Constitution and accused the administration of targeting lawmakers and citizens alike to silence dissent.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the video “sickened” him and demanded immediate answers. “What the hell went on?” he asked. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called for a formal investigation into the incident.
Republican responses were varied, and many opted for restraint. Thune, who was among the first to see the video, said he would withhold judgment until learning more. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) acknowledged the footage was “disturbing” and added, “It’s hard to imagine a justification for that level of force.”
Other Republicans dismissed the incident or appeared unsympathetic. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) argued Padilla should have been in Washington working. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who had not seen the footage, remarked, “He got what he wanted, he’s on video,” when asked about Padilla’s actions.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Padilla disrupted a live news conference and failed to identify himself, leading agents to believe he posed a threat — a claim the senator’s colleagues quickly refuted. They emphasized Padilla introduced himself by name and title before speaking and noted that political disagreement is not a valid reason for the use of force.
Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants and one of the most prominent Latino voices in Congress, had been asking about the immigration raids taking place in his state that have sparked protests and legal challenges. His treatment, said his fellow senators, is not only unacceptable but emblematic of a broader erosion of democratic norms.
“This is what a dictatorship looks like,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). “We have to stand up.”
The Padilla incident followed another controversial moment earlier in the week: the indictment of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) for allegedly interfering with federal agents outside a detention center. Together, the two cases have alarmed many Democrats, who see them as part of a pattern of escalating crackdowns on dissent under Trump’s second term.
Comparisons to the January 6 Capitol riot quickly emerged. “Other than January 6, I have never been so outraged by the conduct of an administration,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). The memory of that day — when lawmakers fled from violent rioters — looms large, especially as debates continue about the balance between security and civil liberties.
With calls for an investigation growing and emotions still raw, the incident may become a flashpoint in ongoing debates over executive power, immigration enforcement, and the treatment of elected officials. For now, what happened to Alex Padilla is more than just a procedural breakdown — to many, it’s a warning sign of how fragile the norms of American governance have become.
DHS Faces Backlash DHS Faces Backlash DHS Faces Backlash
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