The Democratic U.S. senator, one of two representing California, recounted the June 12 incident at a Monday, July 14 American Community Media (ACoM) briefing: “When I was simply trying to ask a question at a press conference … I was not just physically forced out of the room but put on the ground and handcuffed without any explanation,” he explained, “and repeatedly asking: ‘Why am I being detained?’ with no answer.”

Addressing approximately 70 reporters, he continued: “If this is how this administration responds to United States senator who wants to ask a question to try to shed light, try to get truth, try to get information as to what’s really going on, then we can only imagine what they’re willing to do and what they are doing to so many people in all corners of the country … We hear what they say about protesters, we hear what they say about migrants, about any community of color or anybody who’s willing to disagree with them on policy.”

The VISIBLE Act

In response, Padilla has introduced the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act.

The bill would require immigration enforcement personnel — including DHS agents, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal, state or local officers detailed or deputized for immigration operations — to display clearly visible identification during public-facing activities. This includes their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number.

The bill would also ban non-medical face coverings like masks or balaclavas, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; require DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations; require annual DHS compliance reporting to Congress; and channel complaint investigation through the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

“No one should have to wake up one morning and fear that they’re being kidnapped by masked strangers,” explained Padilla, adding that one reason he introduced the VISIBLE Act is that “there’s been reported instances, not just in California, but across the country, of people impersonating ICE officers, which is very easy to do when ICE is not required to identify themselves on their body, on their uniform, when they’re allowed to mask up, drive unmarked vehicles.”

“That is a very big public safety concern for the community and for the agents themselves, because you don’t know how an individual or a community is going to respond to somebody when they’re not sure if it’s law enforcement or not … when you don’t have accountability measures,” he continued, citing his DHS clash.

The press event, held in a Los Angeles federal building, was hosted by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to highlight the federal response to ICE raid protests in LA.

Following the incident, DHS posted on X that “Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre,” as he “was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands.”

Padilla said he had been scheduled for a separate meeting down the hall which was delayed by the conference, and so he asked to attend it. He was escorted into the room by FBI and National Guard officials.

‘We can’t lose faith’

The senator’s bill comes amid shifting public views on hard-line immigration enforcement.

A Gallup poll released last Friday shows a record drop in Americans favoring reduced immigration: 30%, down from 55% in 2024. Now, 38% want to maintain current levels, and 26% support increased immigration.

The drop in support was starkest among Republicans, down 40 percentage points over the last year to 48%. Independents dropped 21 points to 30% while Democrats dropped 12 points to 16.

“Those numbers tell what many of us have known all along. For all their talk about Trump on immigration, it always depends on how you ask the question,” said Padilla. “Everybody wants a safe, secure, orderly and humane border. There’s never been a debate about that. We also want more humanity and fairness for long-term residents of the United States who happen to be undocumented.”

A 2020 Pew poll found similarly that 74% of American adult respondents — including 91% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans — “favor granting permanent legal status to immigrants who came illegally to the United States when they were children.”

“In the short term, know your rights. Regardless of immigration status, everybody has due process rights in the United States. This administration has tried to not respect those rights,” said Padilla. It’s part of our job to hold the administration accountable, to make sure people have those due process rights recognized and respected.”

“In the longer term, we can’t lose faith. This country and our democracy is worth fighting for. That’s why I do what I do,” he continued, encouraging Americans “to prepare ourselves for the midterm elections. People who are eligible to vote have to register. For people who are registered, talk to your friend, your neighbor, a coworker, a family member who may not be registered, because the ultimate political pushback is going to be at the ballot box next year.”