Earlier today Senator Alex Padilla attended a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press briefing where, upon questioning DHS Secretary Noem, the senator was violently tackled, handcuffed, and forced out of the room by federal agents. Professor Karen Musalo, Director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), provided the following comment in response.
“Today’s assault on Senator Padilla is totally unacceptable. Senator Padilla attended a public press conference seeking answers on behalf of the millions of Californians he represents, including constituents who have been grievously harmed in the administration’s escalating attacks on immigrant communities and protestors exercising their First Amendment rights. Rather than answer the senator’s questions, the Trump administration used violent force to silence him. The treatment of Senator Padilla is consistent with this administration’s pattern of using force and intimidation against elected officials and judges exercising their responsibilities under the Constitution. We urge every member of Congress and elected officials at all levels of government to condemn this shocking assault on Senator Padilla.”