Voto Latino Condemns the Forcible Removal of Senator Alex Padilla from DHS Press Conference

Washington, D.C. — Voto Latino strongly condemns the forcible removal and handcuffing of sitting U.S. Senator Alex Padilla during a Department of Homeland Security press conference today in Los Angeles. Senator Padilla was removed for doing what any elected leader should: demanding transparency and seeking clarity for his constituents—many of whom are being targeted and intimidated by the Trump administration’s extreme and opaque enforcement tactics.

At a time when leadership calls for transparency, access to due process, and compassion, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to have Senator Padilla removed and handcuffed marks a deeply troubling moment. The forceful arrest of a sitting U.S. Senator for demanding answers is not just wrong—it’s a repressive tactic straight out of authoritarian governments that seek to silence dissent and evade accountability. This has no place in American democracy. Every member of Congress should demand a full investigation into the DHS’s handling. 

From aggressive raids to the deployment of the National Guard over California’s objections, this administration has chosen intimidation over dialogue and fear over leadership. Senator Padilla is doing what this administration refuses to: standing up for accountability, and the people he was elected to serve.

Voto Latino stands in solidarity with Senator Padilla and calls on the Trump administration to reevaluate its approach, prioritizing partnership with state and local leaders who are closest to and most trusted by their communities.

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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.