U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forced out and briefly handcuffed on Thursday after attempting to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her remarks at the FBI headquarters in Los Angeles.
The incident took place during a tense exchange over immigration enforcement actions in California.
Padilla, California’s first Latino U.S. senator, had been attending a separate briefing in the federal building when he became aware of the ongoing press event.
As Secretary Noem spoke on the administration’s handling of recent protests against immigration enforcement, Padilla interjected with questions about the federal government’s actions in California.
Law enforcement quickly intervened, ordering Padilla to the ground and restraining him with handcuffs.
The senator was later released and not arrested, but the incident has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic leaders.
Despite identifying himself several times, he was swiftly tackled and restrained by security personnel, reportedly including FBI agents.
While the senator was ultimately not arrested, his ejection from the room by law enforcement follows the arrests of other public officials, who the administration has accused of impeding its enforcement of immigration laws.