FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2025
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Adrian Escárate, 202-609-9976
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NILC President Kica Matos Condemns DHS Assault on United States Senator Alex Padilla
WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement after U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla was assaulted and violently removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference in the Los Angeles Federal Building:
“Donald Trump and his cabinet are systematically attacking our democracy – in Los Angeles and across the country. Watching armed federal agents wrestle a United States senator conducting legitimate congressional oversight to the ground should infuriate every person of conscience in this country. These thugs in uniform deliberately ignored Senator Padilla when he identified himself. All they saw was a big brown man and decided to treat him like they have been treating immigrants of color.
“We must confront this attack with unity and solidarity. Everyone should speak out. It is our very democracy that is at stake.”
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