Senator Padilla’s forcible removal from a DHS event triggers political backlash and fuels fundraising efforts.

Senator Removed During Press Briefing in Los Angeles

Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press briefing on Thursday, igniting controversy in Washington and nationwide. The incident occurred at FBI headquarters in Los Angeles as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the media amid escalating anti-ICE protests in the city.

Padilla, who had been in Washington earlier that week, entered the press room unannounced during Noem’s remarks and did not immediately identify himself or wear his Senate security pin. Secret Service agents quickly intervened, shouting “hands up” and briefly placing him in handcuffs before escorting him out of the room.

According to Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Padilla failed to comply with repeated commands and approached Noem in a manner agents perceived as threatening. “The Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately,” McLaughlin stated. She also criticized Padilla for allegedly attempting to stage a viral moment, calling his actions “embarrassing and disrespectful.”

The two later met privately for approximately 15 minutes. While Secretary Noem described the conversation as “cordial and beneficial,” Padilla offered a more critical view afterward. “If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, imagine what they’re doing to workers and day laborers in California,” he told reporters. Padilla vowed to hold the administration accountable.

Capitol Hill Reacts

Reactions from lawmakers were swift and divided. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., demanded an independent investigation and called for Noem’s resignation. “It’s time for Kristi Noem to resign. She needs to resign,” Warren said. Other Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell, echoed similar demands.

Republican leaders offered mixed responses. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was gathering information and had spoken to both Padilla and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. “We want to know the full scope of what happened,” he said. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for Padilla’s censure, condemning the disruption as unacceptable conduct for a sitting senator.

In response to criticism, McLaughlin reiterated that Padilla entered a high-security area under false pretenses and disrupted an invite-only briefing during ongoing civil unrest. “Had Senator Padilla asked for a meeting, Secretary Noem would have happily obliged,” she stated.

On Capitol Hill, the incident spilled onto the Senate and House floors, with Democratic lawmakers staging a protest march to Republican leadership offices. Arguments erupted as members clashed over the treatment of Padilla and the broader immigration enforcement agenda.

Fundraising Fallout

Within 24 hours of the altercation, Padilla and Democratic organizations had launched fundraising campaigns referencing the event. In an email to supporters, Padilla claimed the Trump administration was “terrorizing immigrant communities” and denying due process. The Democratic National Committee also issued a statement calling the incident an “attack on freedom of speech and expression.”

Padilla’s office maintained that he was simply seeking answers on the use of federal force in California. “The Senator was trying to do his job,” said Deputy Communications Director Edgar D. Rodríguez. “It was a civil, brief meeting, but the Secretary did not provide meaningful answers.”

While the clash has intensified partisan tensions, it has also amplified public scrutiny of DHS policies and the administration’s handling of civil unrest tied to immigration enforcement. As investigations are urged and tempers flare, the political ramifications of Padilla’s removal are likely to continue reverberating across Washington.