Sen. Alex Padilla Removed from DHS Press Conference Amid Immigration Protests
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U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat representing California, was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the FBI headquarters in Los Angeles on Thursday. Videos circulating online show Senator Padilla shouting that he had "questions for the secretary" before being escorted out of the event by security personnel.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of widespread protests across the United States against President Trump's immigration enforcement policies. These protests are triggered by federal immigration operations and the controversial mobilization of the Marines and National Guard in Los Angeles. A federal judge is scheduled to consider California Governor Gavin Newsom's emergency motion to block the president's deployment of troops.
The Trump administration has deployed 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles and activated over 4,000 National Guard members. This action has drawn criticism from local officials, who argue that the demonstrations were largely peaceful and confined to a few blocks in downtown L.A., where a curfew has been imposed for a second consecutive night.
Governor Newsom has accused President Trump of "turning the U.S. military against American citizens." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed these concerns, criticizing what she termed an unnecessary display of force. She stated, "When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe; you’re trying to cause fear and panic."
Secretary Noem indicated that Senator Padilla had not requested a meeting with her prior to the press conference. Further details surrounding the specific questions Senator Padilla intended to ask remain unclear.
Separately, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of the National Guard to address ICE protests in San Antonio and Austin, a move that has provoked anger from the mayors of those cities. The situation remains fluid as protests continue and legal challenges unfold.
LAPD Arrests and Federal Charges
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported 71 arrests for failure to disperse and 7 arrests for curfew violations overnight. There were no reported arrests for vandalism or looting. In the preceding period, the LAPD reported over 200 arrests, primarily for unlawful assembly and curfew violations.
Additionally, two men face federal charges in connection with Molotov cocktail attacks at protest sites in downtown Los Angeles and Paramount. The investigation is ongoing.