US Immigration: Padilla Removed Out Of Noem’s News Conference

Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed by law enforcement officials Thursday after he interrupted a Los Angeles press conference of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports Neom was discussing the Trump administration’s response to the ongoing anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstrations.

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Neom said, “We are not going away… We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”

Having barged into the conference room at that point, Padilla tried to address the Homeland Security chief before he was accosted by FBI agents, who then briefly restrained the California Democrat after rushing him away from the scene and handcuffing him.

“I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary. Because the fact of the matter is, a half dozen… Hands off!” the lawmaker was heard shouting as he was swarmed by law enforcement.

Following his brief detainment by the FBI, the senator held a news conference saying, “I came to the press conference to hear what she had to say, to see if I could learn any new additional information.

“I was there peacefully. At one point, I had a question and so I began to ask a question. I was almost immediately forcibly removed from the room. I was forced to the ground and I was handcuffed. I was not arrested. I was not detained.”

While urging more “peaceful protests,” he said, “If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they‘re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,”

Padilla added, “We will hold this administration accountable.”

Although video footage captures the senator saying his name and title at least twice, a Homeland Security spokesperson accused Padilla of “lunging” at Noem without identifying himself.

Assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem.

“Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. U.S. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately.”

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is currently suing the administration for federally mobilising the National Guard in response to the protests, also immediately condemned the treatment of Padilla during the press conference.