Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed by law enforcement officials after interrupting a news conference in Los Angeles led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who vowed that the Trump immigration crackdown in the city was "not going away."
Noem defended Trump's militarized response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles against the administration's ramped-up immigration raids.
"We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country," she said, shortly before Padilla could be heard identifying himself as a senator and saying he had questions for the secretary.
Padilla was pushed out of the room by officials before he could get questions in. Noem continued with her remarks.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., is forcibly removed from the room after interrupting a news conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. Photo by Aude Guerrucci/Reuters
Protests against Trump's actions have emerged in other cities elsewhere in the country, with more demonstrations planned for the weekend.
"Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers' repeated commands. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on X.
The department said Noem and Padilla met for 15 minutes following the news conference.
Watch Padilla's remarks after he was removed from Noem's news conference in the player above. Video by PBS News Hour.
In a statement, Padilla's office said the senator was "exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight of the federal government's operations in Los Angeles and across California."
His office confirmed that Padilla was in the building and was listening to Noem's remarks.
"He tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information," the statement added.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and more than two dozen other California mayors have asked President Donald Trump to end the sweeps. Bass joined PBS News' Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest. Watch the segment in the player above.
A judge is expected to hear arguments later Thursday in a challenge from California against the administration's deployment of military forces to respond to immigration raids in Los Angeles. California has sued the Trump administration for calling up state National Guard troops, saying the president has overstepped his authority. Some legal experts argue the president's justification for calling up the National Guard is untested legal theory.
More on the deployment to Los Angeles from our coverage:
- How GOP lawmakers are reacting to immigration raid protests and Trump's response
- Democratic governors say Trump actions in LA undermine states, create chaos
- Retired military leaders analyze Trump's deployment of Marines and National Guard in LA
- Hegseth says troops could be in LA for 60 days and cost $134 million
- Troops deployed in LA as immigration raids stir fear and protests.
- Hegseth reacts to concern that Trump administration applies double standard to protests.