WASHINGTON: Democratic US Senator Alex Padilla was shoved out of a room, forced to the ground and handcuffed by security after attempting to ask a question at a Thursday press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Padilla said during the press conference where Noem was discussing protests in Los Angeles over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“Hands off,” Padilla, 52, said before he was ushered out of the room.

Padilla, from California, said in a statement that he was forced to the ground and handcuffed by security.

A video posted online showed three agents pushing Padilla to the ground and handcuffing his hands behind his back.

Noem was speaking in Los Angeles, which has seen days of protests against Trump’s crackdown on migrants. The White House has respon­ded by sending National Guard troops and Marines into the city, saying they would help secure federal buildings and defend Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

In a statement on X, Department of Homeland Security accused Padilla of engaging in “disrespectful political theater”.

“Mr Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. @Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately,” the department said, adding that Noem later met Padilla.

A wave of Democratic senators, and at least one Republican, criticised Senator Padilla’s handling.

“Senator Padilla is a big, tall guy, and to see how he was handled out of that room is wrong and sick,” Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski told reporters at the Capitol.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the incident in a speech on the Senate floor.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025