Alyssah Hall
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Nonprofit news and communications agency, American Community Media (ACOM), held a virtual Newsmaker Briefing with special guest California Senator Alex Padilla on Monday, July 14.
Senator Padilla is the proud son of Mexican immigrants and the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate. He made headlines last month when he was forcibly removed from a news conference held by Homeland Security Kristi Noem in Los Angeles. Although Padilla stated his title and said he had questions for Noem, he was forced to the ground and placed in handcuffs by the Department of Homeland Security.
“In the aftermath of that event, not a surprise to me that the Trump administration chose to lie about what happened, but thankfully, there was video that everybody was able to see for themselves,” said Padilla.
“If this is how this administration responds to a 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,” Padilla continued.
In early July, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Visible Act in order to hold the Trump administration accountable. This act requires immigration officers to display identification and bans non medical face covering during enforcement. A similar measure is under consideration in the California state legislature.
In early July, the senator introduced the Visible Act, along with Senator Cory Booker, in order to continue holding the Trump administration accountable. This act requires immigration officers to display identification and bans non medical face covering during enforcement. A similar measure is under consideration in the California state legislature.
“Because no one should have to wake up one morning and fear that they’re being kidnapped by strangers,” Padilla said.
Padilla spoke about the harmful Trump administration’s immigration policies, including mass deportations and budget cuts affecting healthcare and clean energy. He highlighted the importance of the media in holding this administration accountable and encouraged communities to know their rights and vote in the midterm elections. Padilla also addressed the need for congressional oversight and the impact of ICE operations on immigrant communities.
“Earlier this month, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress passed their top priority for Trump’s second term. They decided that in order to afford yet another round of massive tax breaks for the rich, that working families were going to have to pay more with a trillion dollars from Medicaid being cut, kicking 17 million Americans off of their health care and rolling back the historic progress that we made on the Clean Energy Transition,” Padilla shared.
Padilla stated that with all of the administration’s cuts on nutrition assistance programs, Medicare and more, the only section of the budget that saw “real investments” was the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
Padilla encouraged the public — regardless of immigration status — to know their rights, including a right to due process and not talking to ICE without proof of a signed warrant.
“We can’t lose faith, this country and our democracy is worth fighting for. That’s why I do what I do. But we both have to prepare ourselves [for the] short term and for the midterm elections…the ultimate political pushback is going to be at the ballot box next year,” Padilla stated.