The Democrat Padilla tried to comment on the Trump administration's tough stance on migrants at a press conference with Minister Kristi Noem. Pictures from the press conference show how two men forced the senator to the ground and put handcuffs on him.
I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have a question for the minister, does the senator hear at the event.
The reactions were immediate. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that Padilla "is one of the most honorable people I know."
"This is humiliating, dictatorial and shameful (President Donald) Trump and his attack forces have lost their grip," the governor writes on social media platforms.
Even Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass characterizes the event as "abhorrent."
The Department of Homeland Security claims in a statement on a social platform that the senator's behavior was "disrespectful political theater", that he did not introduce himself and seemed to want to attack the minister.
The US Senate, with two representatives from each state, is one of the most powerful and important political institutions in the country.
