‘What do they have to hide?’ Sen. Padilla asks of Trump’s DHS

[0:00] It might seem like the Trump administration's brutal immigration crackdown has slowed down [0:06] compared to earlier this year. But when federal agents are patrolling American streets, [0:11] violently detaining migrants and killing American citizens, anything feels like an improvement. [0:18] Some things have changed. Kristi Noem, the former face of Trump's deportation campaign, [0:22] was replaced at DHS. Greg Bovino, remember him, the guy that would go around in the military [0:27] costume. He led a federal immigration force that terrorized cities like Minneapolis. He was also [0:33] removed. The personnel may have changed, but the tactics and the policies and the cruelty have [0:39] stayed the same. And one senator is still trying to change all that. One year ago this week, [0:44] Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California was dragged out of a news conference [0:48] held by then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He was pinned to the ground and he was [0:53] handcuffed. His crime? He spoke up. He had questions for Secretary Noem about the sweeping [1:01] immigration raids that had sparked protests across the streets of Los Angeles. Senator Padilla's [1:06] office sent me this video at the time showing how the takedown unfolded. I'm Senator Alex Padilla. [1:14] I have questions for the secretary because the fact of the matter is a half a dozen violent [1:20] criminals that you're rotating on your, on your, on your, hands off. [1:26] I also want to tell you how many of our ice agents have been docked on the ground. On the ground. On [1:35] the ground. On the ground. Hands behind your back. Hands behind your back. [1:38] Let me get up. Let me get on my hands. Go ahead. Let me get on my back. [1:41] All right. Cool. Hey, with my hand. Lay flat. Lay flat. Other hand, sir. Other hand. [1:50] At the time, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Senator Padilla did not identify [1:54] himself as a senator and was being threatening. But just watch the video. It wasn't the case. [1:59] And Padilla did identify himself as a senator. He was ultimately released without charges. And [2:05] within hours, he joined me on our air and described how the administration dehumanizes [2:10] immigrants in pursuit of their American dream. I understand their plight. I understand their [2:20] struggle. I understand their sacrifice to just find the American dream a good opportunity, [2:27] maybe a good job, the ability to raise a family and have the next generation have it a little [2:32] bit better than you do. And so for all the talk about immigration, the misinformation, disinformation [2:40] about the invasions and insurrections, it's all BS coming from Trump. [2:46] But the senator's now using this moment to renew his push for real immigration reform on Capitol Hill. [2:52] And Senator Alex Padilla joins me now. Senator, good morning. Thanks for being here. [2:58] Good morning, Jacob. Thank you so much for having me today. [3:01] We have seen, Senator, as I mentioned, leadership change at DHS since that news conference a year [3:07] ago, but not much else. Tom Homan behind the podium in a suit and tie is still the same policies [3:13] of Greg Bovina running around the country. In fact, we've seen more detention centers and reports of [3:16] horrendous conditions inside the detention centers. American citizens shot and killed in the streets [3:22] of Minneapolis. I would love to hear your assessment of the last year. [3:28] Yeah. No, I appreciate the opportunity because we are about one year after. And [3:33] not a day goes by that somebody at this point, mostly strangers, they keep coming up to me because [3:39] they recognize me and they remember that day. It shocked them. It was shocking for me, for my friends [3:44] and family. And then you would have at least an impact in that moment. But it continues to sink into me every [3:50] day how much I think it rattled most people across the country. You know, as I said back then, [3:56] if this is how the administration would treat a senator for trying to ask a question, [4:00] you can just imagine what's going on with immigrants in all corners of the country. And [4:04] we've seen that come to light through daily news, through social media. [4:10] And I made it a point to my colleagues then that that happened to be Los Angeles, [4:14] but it was clearly just a test case, a playbook the Trump administration was [4:18] planning and intending to play out across the country. We've seen it in Washington and Chicago and [4:24] Portland, of course, in Minneapolis and elsewhere. So what's changed in the last year? You know, [4:29] some changes, I guess, some personnel changes, but the cruelty continues and the cruelty has now [4:37] shifted. You don't see the surge, the big numbers, the warlike scenarios or tactics in communities [4:46] across the country. But what are you seeing? You know, the tensions that you covered in your [4:50] previous segment in courtrooms, taking people into custody that are doing it the right way. How cruel [4:58] is that. You see systematic cruelty with, you know, the firing of immigration judges, the load [5:06] on immigration judges who used to handle maybe 15 cases at a time are now handling 100 cases [5:13] or more at a time. How does that help ensure due process? The difficulty in obtaining access to [5:20] counsel, which is a right, a part of due process, that's being undermined. You see, [5:26] the intentional processing delays of DACA recipients, right? You've heard this story, [5:32] the, you know, people who are applying literally months in advance before their deadline [5:36] so their protections don't lapse. Trump's administration quick to process the payment [5:41] for that application, but then sitting on the applications to the point where protections expire [5:46] and those young people are even more vulnerable to detention and deportation. And a story that you [5:52] covered, 500 babies and very young children in custody. You know, they're clearly not the worst [6:01] of the worst. And I think one of the most horrific stats that people need to be aware of, [6:05] more than 50 people now dead during the second Trump administration in ICE custody [6:11] and growing. The conditions are abhorrent. Senator Padilla, what are we going to do about it? What [6:18] are you going to do about it? You know, ultimately, how crucial are the midterm elections? And if the [6:24] Democrats do regain control, what's your plan? Yeah. So I think, you know, there's a couple of [6:33] categories of our action. There's legislative leverage, whenever we can find it. I'll talk about [6:38] that in a second. Legal resistance and opposition. And we continue to see that play out in courts [6:44] across the country. And we're winning a heck of a lot more than not. But between filing a lawsuit for [6:49] bad practices and not just legal violations, but constitutional violations, you know, that [6:55] cruelty continues until judges act. And even then, you know, it's a spotty record of the Trump [7:01] administration abiding by court orders. And so the ultimate check, the ultimate accountability will [7:08] be elections, both this November, where we have an opportunity to change the control of Congress, [7:14] both chambers. And then, of course, in 28, when we can elect a new administration. But in the meantime, [7:21] you know, long term, we'll have to work on modernize their immigration system. We've been talking [7:25] about that for years. It's long, long overdue. But that's not in lieu of holding people accountable [7:31] in the here and now. Can I just interrupt you, Senator? But let me just ask you about that. [7:35] Is there a day one priority in terms of a subpoena or bringing someone [7:38] in front of the Congress in terms of oversight or investigations that you'd like to, from this [7:42] administration, attempt to hold accountable? Yes, absolutely. And again, that's what I want the [7:47] public to know. When Democrats in the majority will have the power of chairmanships to bring people [7:53] in under oath to finally testify and provide to committees the responses to information that we've [8:00] been requesting. This administration is far from being transparent. They don't like [8:04] accountability. You know, our fundamental question is, what do they have to hide? Why [8:08] wouldn't they take my meetings or answer my questions at a press conference a year ago? [8:12] Why are they denying access to these detention facilities for members of Congress trying to do [8:19] their oversight job? So that all changes come this November. But in the meantime, [8:24] you saw Democrats unite against more funding for ICE and CBP without some fundamental reforms. [8:31] And so what do Republicans choose to do? What did Trump choose to do? Go through a special [8:37] budget reconciliation process party-line votes to give ICE and CBP three years' worth of elevated [8:45] budgets instead of negotiating some of the common-sense changes that we've been seeking, [8:50] the requirement of signed judicial warrants, the requirement of running the body camps that [8:54] they already have, but they don't want to put them on or be forced to turn them on. You know, [8:58] things like that. Senator Padilla, it was an extraordinary, [9:05] doesn't feel like the right word to describe it. It was awful to watch you go through that, [9:09] and I hope you're doing okay. I'm sure that that's something that sticks with you [9:13] for a long time. And it's a moment, certainly, I'll never forget sitting down with you in the [9:17] wake of it. I'm glad to be able to talk to you. Go ahead. [9:21] I appreciate it. Like I said, not a day goes by that somebody doesn't comment on it. And [9:24] what I was hoping back then, I think, has played out. I said, as difficult as that was, [9:28] not just for me, not just for, you know, family and friends, but clearly a lot of people, [9:32] that some good would come out of this. And people who may not have been aware of what was happening in [9:36] Los Angeles all of a sudden were aware. People who were aware, but maybe not enough to care, [9:41] finally caring. It wasn't a coincidence, I think, that two days after the incident was the first of [9:46] the No Kings marches. I think just a few more people turned out that first No Kings day because [9:52] of what happened. The second No Kings protest was even bigger. The third even bigger. We've got [9:57] to channel that concern and that organizing to this November's elections. And today is the one-year [10:04] anniversary of that first protest. Thank you so much, Senator Alex Padilla from the great state of California.