NALEO’s Bipartisan Statement on Forcible Removal of Senator Alex Padilla from DHS Press Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2025

CONTACT:
NALEO Media, [email protected]

of Senator Alex Padilla from DHS Press Conference

or demeaned for serving the public interest

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) released the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Erica Bernal-Martinez, NALEO President Claudia M. Frometa, and the bipartisan Executive Committee of NALEO on the forceable removal of California Senator and former NALEO President Alex Padilla at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security press conference today in Los Angeles, California:

"We unequivocally condemn the unacceptable treatment of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla during his recent attempt to carry out congressional oversight at a DHS press conference led by Secretary Kristi Noem.

"Senator Padilla, a longstanding NALEO member and former NALEO President, was fulfilling his constitutional duty to provide oversight and raise critical questions on behalf of his constituents. The obstruction he faced was not only an affront to the U.S. Senate office in which he serves, but to the principles that guide our democracy and nation.

"We fully expect the federal government to have established and respected avenues for our nation's elected officials to raise concerns around issues that directly affect the communities they are sworn to represent and protect. This expectation is especially vital now, given the ongoing tensions in the Los Angeles area and broader national discourse around immigration, public safety, and the role of government.

"No public official - regardless of party affiliation or level of office - should ever be silenced or demeaned while serving the public interest. The manner in which Senator Padilla was treated reflects a dangerous disregard for the norms of our democracy and institutional accountability. Today's events merit a formal review of official protocols and procedures to prevent this from happening again.

"We stand in full solidarity with Senator Padilla and reaffirm our commitment to defending the right of all elected officials, whether Democratic, Republican, or independent, to serve their communities without physical obstruction or disrespect. A healthy democracy demands nothing less."

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About NALEO
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation's more than 7,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.