U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed after he interrupted a Los Angeles news conference on immigration held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Padilla, a California Democrat, began shouting over Noem before he was removed from the room.
Noem said Padilla did not ask for a meeting with her, and she criticized his interruption.
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“I think everybody in America would agree that that was inappropriate,” she said.
A statement from the Homeland Security Department said Noem and Padilla met after the news conference for about 15 minutes, but it also chided him for “disrespectful political theater.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted Padilla’s removal in a social media post.
“This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control,” the governor said. “This must end now.”