Fact Check: Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security news conference by Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025.

Published June 16, 2025

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# Fact Check: "Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security news conference by Secretary ...

Fact Check: "Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security news conference by Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025."

What We Know

On June 12, 2025, Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. During the event, which was focused on immigration raids and ongoing protests in California, Padilla attempted to ask Noem a question but was interrupted and subsequently removed by federal agents. Reports indicate that he was handcuffed and pushed to the ground as he protested the treatment he received, declaring, “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary” (AP News, NPR). Video footage captured the incident, showing Padilla being forcibly ejected from the room by a Secret Service agent (New York Times, CNN).

Padilla's removal sparked outrage among his Democratic colleagues, who characterized the event as an alarming attack on democratic norms. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer expressed his disgust, calling for an investigation into the incident (AP News). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later issued a statement claiming that Padilla had not identified himself and that officers acted appropriately in response to his behavior (AP News, Padilla's Statement).

Analysis

The incident involving Senator Padilla has been widely reported across multiple credible news outlets, including the Associated Press, NPR, and the New York Times, all of which corroborate the essential details of the event. The consistency of the reports lends credibility to the claim that Padilla was forcibly removed from the press conference (AP News, NPR, New York Times).

Critically assessing the sources, the Associated Press and NPR are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic integrity, while the New York Times also maintains a strong reputation for fact-checking and thorough reporting. The statements from Padilla's office provide an official perspective on the incident, emphasizing his role in performing congressional oversight (Padilla's Statement). However, the DHS's response, which attempted to justify the actions of the federal agents, may reflect a bias in favor of the administration's narrative, particularly given the contentious political climate surrounding immigration enforcement (AP News).

The video evidence of the incident, as reported by several outlets, further substantiates the claim. It shows Padilla being forcibly removed, which aligns with the descriptions provided by witnesses and news reports (New York Times, CNN).

Conclusion

Based on the available evidence, the claim that Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security news conference by Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025, is True. The incident was documented by multiple credible sources, and the details of the removal are consistent across reports. The context of the event, including Padilla's attempts to question Noem about immigration policies, adds further weight to the significance of this occurrence.

Sources

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