Democrats describe the incident as a disturbing abuse of power, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that Padilla disregarded protocol and was perceived as a threat.
Padilla interrupted the event in Los Angeles and attempted to ask Noem a question related to immigration enforcement and recent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city. He was quickly removed from the room by federal agents and, in a hallway outside, restrained. DHS later said officers believed Padilla was “lunging” toward the Cabinet secretary and failed to identify himself or wear his Senate pin.
That claim has been repeatedly disputed by Democrats, who say the department’s account is contradicted by video evidence.
Video footage from inside the room shows Padilla initially walking in Noem’s direction while attempting to ask a question.
Law enforcement then interjected and appeared to begin removing him. As he was being escorted out, Padilla then stated, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary, because the fact of the matter is, a half a dozen ...” before eventually being pulled from the room.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was among the first to react publicly, calling the incident “a deeply alarming escalation.”
“There must be an investigation,” she said in remarks to reporters outside the Capitol on Thursday. “They are tackling and arresting United States sitting members of Congress while going on the record and lying about what happened. This is an out-of-control agency, and there must be consequences.”
Other notable Democrat lawmakers echoed that sentiment. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) each called for an independent probe into the incident, with Warren and Cortez Masto also urging Noem to resign.
“Senator Padilla was handcuffed for doing his job,” Warren said during an MSNBC interview on Thursday evening. “Anyone who isn’t already convinced that the Trump administration is trying to undermine free speech in this country needs to watch that video.”
Noem and the DHS have maintained that Padilla acted improperly.
“He did not request a meeting with me or to speak with me,” she said during remarks to reporters after the press conference. “I think everybody in America would agree that ... if you wanted to have a civil discussion, especially as a leader, that you would reach out and try to have a conversation.”
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Epoch Times on Friday that Padilla had “interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on” and that agents acted in accordance with their training when they believed he posed a threat.
Padilla, who later gave a brief statement outside the federal building, said he was there for a scheduled oversight briefing and decided to attend the press event after learning Noem was speaking nearby.
“At one point, I had a question,” Padilla said. “I was almost immediately forcibly removed from the room. I was forced to the ground, and I was handcuffed. I was not arrested. I was not detained.”
Most Democratic reactions have emphasized the oversight role of Congress as proper reasoning for Padilla’s interruption and accused the DHS of using excessive force. But one House Democrat dismissed the uproar as “theater.”
“I think it’s never good when a senator or member of Congress gets roughed up by law enforcement,” Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) told Axios yesterday. “I don’t think political theater is what our job is here.”
Still, leading Democrats have largely remained aligned in their messaging—calling the incident concerning. It marks the second high-profile clash in a month between a Democratic lawmaker and law enforcement over immigration related issues.
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was indicted this week after allegedly impeding ICE agents during a protest at a detention center in Newark last month. McIver has maintained her innocence in the incident.
Some Republican lawmakers also reacted to the incident, offering a range of responses. Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he was working to gather all relevant information and had spoken with both Padilla and the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called the footage “disturbing” and said it was “hard to imagine a justification” for the level of force shown, though she acknowledged not knowing the full context at that time.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called Padilla’s conduct “wildly inappropriate,” adding, “You don’t charge a sitting cabinet secretary.... A sitting member of Congress should not act like that ... that behavior at a minimum, it rises to the level of a censure.”
Others were more critical of Padilla’s presence at the press conference—Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) questioned whether the senator had been disruptive, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Padilla “should have been at work” in Washington.
Padilla, California’s junior senator, was appointed in 2021 and elected to a full term in 2022. He is the first Latino senator to represent the state.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Epoch Times on Thursday that Padilla “stormed a press conference ... yelled, and lunged toward Secretary Noem,” adding: “Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention.”
Melanie Sun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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