1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my absolute outrage and deep concern over the recent and unacceptable treatment of Senator Alex Padilla by the Department of Homeland Security. Reports that a sitting U.S. Senator was manhandled and physically denied access to a DHS press conference are not just alarming — they are symptomatic of a broader, deeply troubling pattern of authoritarian behavior that is taking root in our federal institutions. This is not an isolated incident. We’ve witnessed multiple examples of DHS overstepping its bounds — barring elected officials from entering federal buildings, ignoring oversight, and now resorting to force against members of Congress. Let me be crystal clear: these actions are undemocratic, disgraceful, and wholly incompatible with the principles of a free and open government. How dare a federal agency treat our elected representatives — the very people tasked with overseeing its conduct and funding — with such contempt? This is a direct affront to the Constitution, to congressional authority, and to every citizen who believes in representative democracy. Where is the accountability? Where is the leadership? And most importantly, where is your voice in stopping this escalating authoritarianism? If you remain silent, you are complicit. I demand you speak out publicly, launch a full investigation into this and related abuses of power by DHS, and use every legislative tool at your disposal to rein in this agency before it slides further into unchecked authoritarian conduct. Senator Padilla’s treatment should be a red line for every member of Congress. If DHS can do this to him, what’s stopping them from doing it to anyone who dares to challenge them? I urge you to act decisively and without delay. The erosion of democratic norms is not a slow burn — it is happening now, in plain sight, and under your watch. Do something about it.