Alex Padilla Decries ICE Raids: Imagine What The Administration Will Do In Places 'Where There Are No Cameras'

Forbes Breaking News

During remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) warned of potential civil rights violations by the Trump administration's ICE raids and arrests.

Transcript

00:00But if you watched what unfolded last week and thought what happened is just about one

00:06politician and one press conference, you're missing the point.

00:14If that is what the administration is willing to do to a United States senator for having

00:19the authority to simply ask a question, imagine what they'll do to any American who dares

00:28to speak up.

00:31If what you saw happen can happen when the cameras are on, imagine not only what can happen

00:40but what is happening in so many places where there are no cameras.

00:46Colleagues, this isn't about me.

00:49In fact, it's not just about immigrant communities or even just the state of California.

00:56It's about every single American who values their constitutional rights.

01:02It's about anyone who's ever exercised their First Amendment rights or anyone who's ever

01:09disagreed with a president or anyone who simply values our democracy and wants to keep it.

01:20Now, the president will tell you that this is just about undocumented immigrants, about

01:25law and order, and about targeting dangerous, violent criminals.

01:33If it was just about targeting dangerous, violent criminals, there would be no disagreement.

01:37There would be no debate.

01:38But we know differently.

01:41We don't think.

01:42We know differently.

01:45Public data released by the administration shows that the majority of immigrants currently

01:50in ICE custody have no prior criminal conviction.

01:58And new reporting shows that less than 10 percent of immigrants taken into ICE custody since October

02:05have no serious criminal convictions.

02:10Less than 10 percent.

02:15But a couple of weeks ago, it seemed that Donald Trump was at the lowest point of his presidency

02:23so far.

02:25He was drowning in a week of terrible headlines.

02:29The American people were finally waking up to the realities of the budget reconciliation

02:34bill that will cut health care, nutrition assistance, and good-paying clean energy jobs while reducing

02:43the tax burden on billionaires.

02:46He was losing his tariff wars as the costs for everyday goods were continuing to rise.

02:53His promises to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine were falling flat.

02:58And he had been handed loss after loss in federal court.

03:01He even had a very public breakup with Elon Musk.

03:07And I mention this only because we know what happens when the headlines turn on Donald Trump.

03:12When Donald Trump is having a bad week, he turns to the same tired playbook he always has.

03:20When in doubt, scapegoat immigrants.

03:23And manufacture a crisis to distract the media from what's going on.

03:30That's the reason ICE raids ramped up in California.

03:34And when Californians took to the streets to peacefully protest, he bypassed the governor

03:41and federalized the National Guard.

03:46And even with their presence over a couple days as things began to settle, he escalated

03:51even further by standing in the Marines.

03:55He wants the spectacle.

03:58Not just to distract, but to justify his undemocratic crackdowns and his authoritarian power grabs.

04:06That's the reason why even though the vast majority of protests have remained peaceful, what a weekend.

04:13That's right.

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