Indian American Reps Blast Padilla Arrest: “Beyond the Pale,” “Authoritarian”

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed, forced to the ground, and handcuffed by federal agents on June 12 during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference in Los Angeles, his office confirmed. Padilla, a Democrat, was present to receive a briefing and attempted to question DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

According to a statement from the Senator’s office, Padilla “tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed.” The office emphasized that Padilla was “exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight.” Padilla, the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate, reportedly stated, “If this is how the Trump administration treats a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they’re doing to cooks, to day laborers.”

The DHS, in a statement on social media platform X, offered a different account. The department claimed Padilla “chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem.” They added that Padilla “was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands,” leading the Secret Service to believe he was an attacker and act appropriately. 

The incident drew swift condemnation from Democratic leaders. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a photo of the senator being handcuffed, labeling the act “outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful,” and asserting, “If they can handcuff a US Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you.”

Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06) condemned the action, stating, “What happened to Senator Padilla can happen to any American,” and claiming video footage shows Padilla identifying himself before being forcefully restrained. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi called for Secretary Noem to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) demanded an investigation, calling it “outrageous” and “the assault of a senator. “Rep. Pramila Jayapal described it as “beyond the pale and the mark of an authoritarian regime.” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam viewed the event as part of a pattern by the administration to “weaponize law enforcement.”

Rep. Shri Thanedar directly challenged the DHS’s account, stating, “The DHS is lying. Senator Padilla clearly identified himself and was detained anyways. Kristi Noem must immediately resign over this.”

The incident occurred amidst ongoing protests over federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, which have led to hundreds of arrests. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously dispatched over 4,000 National Guard members and about 700 active-duty Marines to the area, despite objections from Governor Newsom and other local officials.