US Senator Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Kristi Noem news conference

a year ago

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was interrupted by Sen. Alex Padilla during a speech on immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.
Padilla was forcibly removed, handcuffed, and held facedown by Secret Service agents.
Noem continued her speech, criticizing Los Angeles leadership and vowing to 'liberate the city'.
Padilla was at the Federal Building to meet with Gen. Gregory Michael Guillot but was detained after attempting to ask Noem a question.
DHS claimed Padilla was mistaken for an attacker and did not comply with officers' commands.
Noem and Padilla later met for 15 minutes, agreeing to disagree on most topics but exchanging contact information.
The FBI confirmed Padilla was briefly detained and released after identification.
Padilla, California's first Latino senator, has been critical of federal immigration enforcement actions.
Recent ICE raids in Los Angeles have sparked protests, with nearly 400 arrests made, mostly for failing to disperse.
A court hearing was scheduled to address the deployment of National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles.

Hasty Briefsbeta