1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage over the treatment of Senator Alex Padilla during Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Senator Padilla was forcibly removed, forced to the ground, and handcuffed by federal agents simply for attempting to ask a question during a public press conference. Senator Padilla clearly identified himself, stating “I am Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” yet was still treated as if he were a threat. This treatment of a sitting United States Senator represents a dangerous erosion of democratic norms and the separation of powers that our Constitution establishes. As the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s panel on immigration, citizenship, and border safety, Senator Padilla has clear oversight responsibilities regarding federal immigration enforcement activities. His attempt to exercise these constitutional duties should never result in physical force and detention. This incident sets a chilling precedent for how this administration handles basic questions and oversight from elected officials. I urge you to demand a full investigation into this matter and to ensure that appropriate accountability measures are taken to prevent such authoritarian tactics from being used against any member of Congress in the future. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.