During a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, Democratic California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed as he attempted to ask a question. The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, has raised concerns among Padilla's colleagues from Capitol Hill to California.

In the video footage, Padilla can be seen being restrained and escorted out of the room by multiple individuals. Despite his protests, he was taken away from the premises.

Padilla, who is known for his criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies, shared that he was forcibly removed and handcuffed but not arrested or detained. The senator had been seeking more information from the Department of Homeland Security regarding their immigration enforcement actions but had not received a response to his inquiries.

Following the incident, Padilla expressed his disappointment with the administration's response to his questions and vowed to hold them accountable for their actions. He emphasized the importance of oversight and promised to provide more details in the coming days.

The Department of Homeland Security accused Padilla of engaging in "disrespectful political theatre" and failing to identify himself when he interrupted the news conference. They claimed that Padilla ignored commands to back away and behaved in a manner that led officers to believe he was a threat.

Padilla's office released a statement clarifying that the senator was in Los Angeles to perform his congressional oversight duties and was forcibly removed while trying to ask a question during the press conference. They are working to gather more information about the incident.

Democratic officials, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned the treatment of Padilla, calling it dictatorial and shameful. Other lawmakers expressed their outrage at the incident, highlighting the need for accountability and respect for democratic processes.

Despite the altercation, Noem stated that she would meet with Padilla after the press conference to address his concerns and have a civil discussion. The incident has sparked discussions about the treatment of public officials and the importance of upholding democratic values.