1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express deep concern over the forcible removal and handcuffing of Senator Alex Padilla during a press conference with Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. The video of a sitting U.S. Senator being dragged out by federal agents for attempting to ask a question is alarming and demands immediate investigation and condemnation. Senator Padilla is not only a representative of the people of California but also the most senior Democrat on the Senate’s Border Security and Immigration subcommittee. His detention raises urgent questions about civil liberties, abuse of power, and the treatment of elected officials who dissent. If this is how a U.S. Senator is treated in public, what happens to ordinary citizens away from the cameras? I respectfully urge you to publicly condemn this action and support a formal investigation into the conduct of the agencies involved. Upholding democratic principles requires bipartisan courage in moments like this.