The senior U.S. senator from California also slammed the Trump administration for scapegoating immigrants because of President Trump's "bad week."

California Senator Alex Padilla delivered an emotional address on the Senate floor today, recounting his forceful removal from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference last week, an incident that others are now characterizing as a deliberate act of political theater.

"If this administration is this afraid of just one senator... imagine what the voices of tens of millions of Americans peacefully protesting can do."

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who was forcibly removed and handcuffed at a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this week, questioned the meaning behind Noem not recognizing the senator from California amid the incident.

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.

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

Now the senior U.S. senator from California, Alex Padilla’s career in public service started amid intense fervor over immigration in the early 1990s. Now, it comes full circle.