Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was briefly detained last week after being forcibly removed from a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The senator pushed back on Trump administration claims he was trying to make a "viral moment," saying, "Nothing could be further from the truth"

Sen Adam Schiff (D-CA) argued Sunday that his fellow California senator was in the right to interrupt a recent press conference for the Department of Homeland Security, calling it “atrocious” how he was escorted out of the meeting.

The following is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Alex Padilla, Democrat of California, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on June 15, 2025.MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're joined now by California Senator Alex Padilla.

Alex Padilla is the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. FBI agents handcuffed him after he interrupted a press conference on immigration enforcement in LA.

California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Leads Entire Senate Democratic Caucus in Demanding President Trump Remove Military Forces From Los Angeles

Alex Padilla said he was "escorted" to Kristi Noem’s press conference by FBI agents, where he was manhandled by agents claiming they didn't know who he was. The post Sen. Alex Padilla Tells MSNBC FBI ‘Escorted’ Him To Trump DHS Presser They Claim He Crashed first appeared on Mediaite.

Bay Area Republican strategist Matt Shupe described Padilla’s attempt to abruptly question Noem “pure political theatrics.”