1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I write with deep alarm regarding the assault on Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s security detail during a press conference in Los Angeles. Senator Padilla, who holds a critical oversight role on immigration enforcement, was forcibly removed, handcuffed, and thrown to the ground while peacefully attempting to ask a question. Video clearly shows him identifying himself: “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have a question for the secretary.” He posed no threat. Yet the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) falsely claimed he “lunged” toward the secretary—an assertion disproven by footage and by eyewitnesses, including Senator Patty Murray, who called the DHS statement “a lie.” This incident is not isolated. It follows the indictment of Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for allegedly impeding immigration officers. The pattern is unmistakable: this administration is targeting elected officials who question or oppose its extreme policies. Even more chilling is Secretary Noem’s statement at the press conference: “We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialists…” This language, coupled with the illegal federalization of the California National Guard and deployment of Marines to Los Angeles, is nothing short of a threat to democratically elected governments. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump’s federalization order was unlawful, yet enforcement has been delayed and temporarily stayed. The Trump administration is using military power not for national defense, but to intimidate, suppress dissent, and enforce immigration raids—raids that even farmers and employers say are removing long-term, trusted workers. Meanwhile, military leaders express discomfort at being weaponized for political ends, and national security officials admit there is no “invasion” or “rebellion.” This is not about security. It is a clear attempt to consolidate authoritarian power. As Representative Jamie Raskin recently reminded the nation: we have no kings or dictators here—only public servants accountable to We the People. Congress must act. Investigate the assault on Senator Padilla. Halt the illegal militarization of domestic law enforcement. Uphold the constitutional principle that no president is above the law. We are on the brink of losing our democracy—not through war, but through silence in the face of creeping despotism