Senator Ruben Gallego lionized a California Senator detained for disrupting an immigration-related media event by the Trump administration.
California Senator Alex Padilla was detained for disrupting a news conference on immigration by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles amid the ongoing anti-ICE protests and riots.
Federal agents removed and handcuffed Padilla on the belief he was an unidentified man breaching the news conference. While the senator admitted he wasn’t originally included or expected in the news conference, he claimed he did identify himself.
“After identifying myself and trying to ask a question, I was aggressively pushed out of the room, forced to the ground, and handcuffed,” said Padilla.
If that’s what they do to a United States Senator with a question, imagine what they can do to any American that dares to speak up. We will hold this administration accountable. pic.twitter.com/ZMExvMmZfE
— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) June 12, 2025
Videos of the incident show Padilla initially interrupted the news conference without identifying himself, walking quickly toward Noem at her podium while interrupting her with questions. Reports also indicate Padilla’s attire didn’t confirm his insistence after interrupting Noem and while being detained that he was, in fact, a U.S. Senator.
New video showing Senator Padilla was being disruptive and was removed.
This is all a theater. He should not have assaulted the officers.
Gallego sided with Padilla’s version of events. The senator called the arrest a “raw abuse of power,” implying a pattern of the current administration acting unlawfully in regard to immigration.
“They shoved, pinned, and handcuffed Senator Padilla – for asking a question to protect his community,” said Gallego. “A sitting U.S. Senator.”
They shoved, pinned, and handcuffed @SenAlexPadilla —for asking a question to protect his community. A sitting U.S. Senator.
— Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego) June 12, 2025
Noem said in interviews that Padilla was arrested for interrupting the news conference without identifying himself and engaging in troubling behaviors. Noem shared that she met with Padilla after his arrest to hear his concerns.
“This man burst into the room, started lunging towards the podium, interrupting me, and elevating his voice, and was stopped, did not identify himself, and was removed from the room,” said Noem.
After he interrupted our press conference with law enforcement, I met with Senator Padilla for 15 minutes. We probably disagree on 90% of the topics but we agreed to exchanged phone numbers and we will continue to talk—that is the way it should be in this country.
The arrest preceded a federal court order reverting California National Guard authority back to California Governor Gavin Newsom starting Friday. The Trump administration appealed.
Gallego chose to raise awareness of Padilla’s arrest as an injustice before upcoming anti-ICE protests nationwide on President Donald Trump’s birthday — Flag Day — which many believe will devolve into violence, given the recent riots in Los Angeles and spurts of violence emerging at anti-ICE demonstrations locally, like the incident on Tuesday in Peoria in which protesters assaulted an officer.
The organization behind the coordinated protests that have many concerned, No Kings, has listed dozens of protests across Arizona for Saturday: Anthem, Buckeye, Bullhead City, Casa Grande, Cottonwood, Douglas, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Globe, Green Valley, Kingman, Maricopa, Mesa, Nogales (two), Oracle, Oro Valley, Page, Patagonia, Payson, Peoria, Phoenix (two), Prescott, Safford, Scottsdale (two), Sedona (two), Show Low, Sierra Vista, Sun City, Surprise (two), Queen Creek, Tempe, Tucson, Vail, Williams, and Yuma.
In a pre-mobilization call on Thursday, No Kings insisted their protests remain peaceful.
Governor Katie Hobbs offered public support for the anti-ICE rioters in California. Hobbs condemned President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to control the days-long rioting in the state. The governor called the president’s actions “ineffective and dangerous,” and disrespectful of local law enforcement.
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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen recently led a delegation of nearly a dozen state attorneys general and local law enforcement officials to the U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to assess conditions on the ground and observe changes in federal immigration enforcement.
The bipartisan delegation, which included state attorneys general from as far away as Indiana, Mississippi, and South Dakota, met with local police, government leaders, medical professionals, and nonprofit organizations to get a clearer picture of the current border environment.
According to Petersen, the group found dramatically reduced migrant crossings, fewer than five per day in some areas, a stark contrast to the thousands reported daily in previous years. Officials attributed the drop to a return to stricter immigration enforcement policies, including the end of the “catch and release” practice and increased prosecutions under the U.S. Department of Justice.
“For the first time in recent history, most Americans say the country is on the right track,” Petersen said in a statement. “We didn’t need a new law. We just needed a new president to enforce the laws already on the books.”
Petersen framed the visit as a testament to the Arizona Legislature’s support for enhanced federal enforcement at the border. He emphasized the state’s continued commitment to addressing cross-border crime and public safety.
Other officials echoed Petersen’s message, citing improvements in morale among border agents and the impact of reduced immigration on state-level services.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown linked the border situation to fentanyl trafficking, which he said has contributed to thousands of overdose deaths in his state. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also referenced her office’s work with ICE through the 287(g) program, calling President Trump’s policies essential for restoring border integrity.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson both emphasized the criminal aspect of illegal immigration. Wilson, calling the previous administration’s approach “reckless,” said, “Every state is now a border state, and South Carolina is no exception.”
Local law enforcement also played a key role in the visit. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes described the tour as a valuable educational tool for law enforcement across the country, citing the challenges posed by human and drug smugglers.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot and County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, who hosted the delegation, expressed gratitude for national support. “We are grateful to again have officials in the White House who understand our plight,” said Lines. “Together, we are making a difference for residents of the border communities.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new incentive on Monday from the Trump administration for illegal aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App. DHS announced that illegal aliens who self-deport using the application will be forgiven for any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart, receive cost-free travel, and will still receive a $1,000 exit bonus to be paid upon confirmation of their return through the app.
The announcement came as violent riots in Los Angeles continued into their fourth day with mounting attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and vehicles.
“If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home,” Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
She appealed to illegal aliens still in the country, “If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return. If you are in this country illegally, self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way.”
Today, DHS is announcing illegal aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any failure to depart fines, in addition to cost-free travel and a $1,000 exit bonus.
By self-deporting, illegal aliens take control of their departure and may preserve…
According to reporting from the BBC, and Politico 65, illegal aliens have successfully participated in “Project Homecoming,” and received the offered free travel and $1,000 stipend. DHS told the Daily Signal that over 40,000 illegal aliens had registered with the government via the CBP Home App as of May 5th. As reported by NPR, Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group, estimated that ICE detention centers are currently operating at approximately 125% capacity.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem explained at the time.
ICE confirmed to the outlet that “some ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations. We are actively implementing measures to manage capacity while maintaining compliance with federal standards and our commitment to humane treatment. The reality is that these accusations do not reflect ICE’s policies or practices.”
“This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens, and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” Noem said.
Under the leadership of @POTUS Trump we will put the safety of American citizens FIRST not these criminal illegal aliens that sanctuary city politicians are defending. ICE will continue to enforce the law.
During an appearance on Fox News Monday evening, Noem warned: “ICE will continue to enforce the law. If you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Heading into November’s election, the Democratic Party felt good. They thought they had the presidency locked up. And here locally, they were convinced that they would gain control of Arizona’s legislature after outspending Republicans in every single race.
Then, a massacre happened. President Trump was handed a mandate by the American people, and Democrats actually lost ground in our state legislature. That had to feel like rock bottom for the Left, and yet, as we’ve seen so far in 2025, it wasn’t.
On the heels of their historic defeat, the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of its leaders, just days before its convention and officer elections in January. Then, in April, the ADP saw even more infighting between party leadership and the state’s top Democratic elected officials: Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego. Now, the latest news shows that, according to its own leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party will actually go broke by the end of this year.
That’s a lot of dysfunction in just a few short months, which is usually the domain for Republicans. But now it appears the Dems have become the standard bearer of political chaos…
Arizona’s federal immigration court in Phoenix became off-limits to anti-immigration enforcement protestors and journalists covering them on May 21st when private security ordered them off the property. On May 28th, the Phoenix Police Department issued another warning to the protestors that they could be criminally cited for trespassing. The situation in Arizona is unique for the activists seeking to disrupt deportations because the Federal Immigration Court in Phoenix is located in a privately-owned office building.
Journalists covering the legal proceedings themselves are permitted inside the court as one would normally expect. However, the anti-ICE radicals who have sought to disrupt immigration proceedings in cities across the country, and the reporters following in their wake, are stymied by the newly installed “No Trespassing” signs and ropes to bar them from the private property.
Illegals who showed up for immigration court on Tuesday in Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested for deportation.
Good.
Arrest illegals wherever you can @ICEgov and deport them.
These illegals need to get it through their heads that it’s time to self-deport.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 22, 2025
The outlet reported Friday that activist groups and ASU’s First Amendment Clinic (FAC) expressed that the legal situation for protestors and reporters is unclear. Gregg Leslie, executive director of FAC explained, “Right now, it’s not all that clear because of the oddity of how this is all managed. Where the government’s rights take over versus the landlord’s rights, versus the other tenants’ rights.”
He added that the public “right of access,” exists largely as a function of whether a location is on publicly owned land or private land. This is complicated by the courtroom’s location on the third floor of a privately owned building. “If it’s private land owned for public access, there are certain allowances for there being greater public access to it,” he told the outlet.
Illegal aliens confronted and deported by ICE agents after attending asylum hearing in Phoenix, AZ
Keep it going, get them all out
They appear to be in shock, maybe because they never thought they would be held accountable for breaking the law
The protests and subsequent restrictions came following a series of arrests on May 20th and 21st which found dozens of illegal aliens arrested after immigration charges against them were dismissed. Protestors gathered in front of the building chanted “No More ICE!” among other slogans including Spanish profanity. At least one protestor allegedly attempted to pull off an officer’s face covering.
