On Tuesday, Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, delivered a heartfelt speech on the Senate floor, recounting the harrowing moments that led to his forceful removal from a news conference last week. This event was centered around the Trump administration's controversial response to the immigration protests in Los Angeles. Padilla was present at the same federal building where Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was announcing President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops and U.S. Marines in reaction to the protests.
During his remarks, Padilla explained that his scheduled meeting with another official down the hall was delayed by the Noem event, prompting him to attend the press conference. Upon arrival, he requested to join and was escorted into the room by officials from the FBI and National Guard. However, as he attempted to question Noem, he was abruptly grabbed and removed from the venue. “You've seen the video,” Padilla recounted. “I was pushed and pulled, struggled to maintain my balance. I was forced to the ground, first on my knees and then flat on my chest, handcuffed and marched down a hallway while repeatedly asking, ‘Why am I being detained?’”
Initially, the Department of Homeland Security accused Padilla of engaging in "disrespectful political theatre," claiming he did not comply with requests to step back. Secretary Noem later stated that she and Padilla had a conversation following the altercation. In his emotional address, Padilla described his detainment as a pivotal moment in the Trump administration's undemocratic crackdown on protests. He recalled a striking comment made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, asserting that the role of federal law enforcement and the military was to "liberate Los Angeles from our governor and our mayor.”
Padilla condemned this statement as an "un-American mission statement," criticizing President Trump's focus on targeting regions governed by Democratic officials. He urged his Senate colleagues to stand up against these actions. Surrounded by fellow Democrats on the Senate floor, Padilla's address also drew the presence of several Senate Republicans, including Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Thom Tillis from North Carolina.
A son of Mexican immigrants and a graduate of MIT, Padilla transitioned into politics following his advocacy for immigration rights alongside his parents. He was appointed to the Senate in 2021 to fill the vacancy left by Kamala Harris when she became Vice President, and he won election the following year. As the first Latino to represent California in the Senate, Padilla emphasized that his experience should serve as a wake-up call for the nation. He warned that if President Trump could deploy military forces to Los Angeles without justification, this could happen in any state across the country.
Padilla concluded his powerful speech with a rallying cry: “No one will redeem America but Americans. No one is coming to save us but us.” He highlighted the importance of recognizing that while media coverage may be limited, the voices of tens of millions of Americans peacefully protesting have the power to effect change.
