June 25, 2025 • 23 mins
California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference on June 12.
We’ve seen the Trump administration go after activists, students, universities, journalists and now, in the latest escalation, elected officials, including members of Congress.
On today’s Latino USA episode, host Maria Hinojosa sits down with Senator Padilla to talk about this recent incident and what it reveals about everyone else’s right to free speech.
Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear leat you know USA listener. Before we start, I
want you to know that you can get this episode
without the ads. It's amazing. All you need to do
is join Futuro Plus. By the way, you can join
for as little as seven dollars a month. Come on now,
like come on now. That also gets you behind the
scenes access because a lot of stuff happens behind the
(00:22):
scenes that you need to know about. Sign up with
the link in the episode description. Please do that for me,
and all right, we're gonna get on with the show.
I want to specifically thank the Army. I want to
thank the Marines, the National Guard.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Our soldiers are military men and women who have shown
up here to help make sure that we have securities.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It is Thursday, June twelfth, and Homeland Security Secretary Christinome
is holding a news conference in Los Angeles, California. It
has been several days now of ongoing protests across Los Angeles.
People have come out protest against the raids by immigration
and Customs enforcement. Most of the protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Joy is a part of our people's even when we protest,
we've got a joy that no one knows where it
comes from but it comes from the resilience of our
people who built this country, brown and black people.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
There have been some violent incidents, but California Governor Gavin
Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has said the
situation is under control. Still. President Trump decided to call
the military into Los Angeles anyway, and that's also part
of the reason why Secretary Nome is holding this news
conference in order to reinforce the federal government's narrative that
(01:43):
Angelinos need protection from their own neighbors.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
I do want to thank the men and women of
law enforcement.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
They've been absolute rock stars.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Tension has been growing since the unsolicited military intervention into
Laws Angeles. Law enforcement officials are snatching people off the
street in unmarked cars. They're firing weapons with what they
call less than lethal ammunition directly into crowds of pedestrians
and journalists, and California Democratic Senator Alex Badiya wanted some answers,
(02:24):
so he walked into Nomes news conference.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
I'm Senator Alex kadier I have questions for the Secretary now.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
A few years ago, Alex Badya became the first Latino
senator for the state of California. He is also the
son of Mexican immigrants. But before the senator could even
finish his question, but thea is forcibly removed from the
news conference.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Behind my back.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
He is brought to the floor aggressively, and he is
handcuffed behind his back. A few days after the incident,
Badia gives an emotional speech on the Senate.
Speaker 7 (03:04):
Floor and it's those handcuffed.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
And marched down a hallway, repeatedly asking why am I
being detained?
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Not once did they tell me why?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
And he asks a question on a lot of people's minds.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
If that is what the administration is willing to do
to a United States senator for having the authority to
simply ask a question, imagine what they'll do to any
American who dares to speak up.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Back in twenty fifteen, when Trump was a Republican presidential nominee,
another Latino man was removed from a news conference that
is renowned journalist for heramos, excuse me, sit down.
Speaker 8 (03:55):
You weren't called sit down, sit down?
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Sit down?
Speaker 7 (04:00):
Go ahead, No you don't, you haven't been called.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Go back to Univision.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So the removal of Padilla shows an escalation by the
Trump administration and his closest allies. We've seen this administration
go after journalists, go after activists, students, universities, and now
elected officials, including members of Congress. It's yet another example
of the increasing clampdown by Trump on free speech and
(04:34):
on those who oppose and question him and his government.
From Futuro Media and PRX, it's Latino USA. I'm Maria Josa.
Today I speak with California Senator Alex Badilla on what
(04:54):
happened to him and what the incident reveals about the
state of civil rights in the United State. Senator Alex Badiya,
welcome back to Latino, USA, and thank you for joining
us from Washington, DC. You are in the news right now,
and so I just want to know how you're doing
(05:16):
because you're a father, you're a husband, Yes, you're a senator,
but you're all of those other things. And I'm just
kind of doing an emotional temperature check before we start
the interview.
Speaker 7 (05:27):
Yeah, I think I'm doing okay, but you're absolutely right.
There's so many layers, so many dimensions to this. I mean,
it's not lost on me. I think the significance of
what happened, but because of the times that we're living in.
I think it has been important for me to continue
to speak out, to continue to encourage people who are
(05:50):
responding to what happened to channel that I pray that's
something good comes out of all this. On the personal side,
just making sure I'm processing top of mind or Angela
and the boys, because for them, as disturbing as the
visuals are for most people, My kids saw Dad, that
happened to Dad, and already just come into the office today.
(06:14):
My youngest says, who's going to protect you?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
All of this starts because Latinos and Latinas take to
the streets to protest ice in their communities. That is
the context in which you go to see Department of
Homeland Security head Christine nome.
Speaker 7 (06:33):
Right and the people of Los Angeles. We've been through
this before, if we go back to the mid nineties
in Proposition one eighty seven. So yes, Los Angeles and
California knows how to stand up for our rights. This
is our history. We know what to do when there's
an administration that is exceeding their authorities and undermining our
fundamental rights. That's what led me to attend the press
(06:56):
conference because for months and months, as I as a Senator,
along with my colleagues, have been trying to get more
information from the administration and they've been largely non responsive.
So as things were getting tense, we had secured a
briefing not from the Secretary, but from representatives of Northern Command,
the Department of Defense officials overseeing this operation. So that's
(07:18):
what led me to the Federal building that Thursday morning.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Senator is going to meet with military officials from the
Northern Command regarding overwhelmingly nonviolent protests led overwhelmingly by Latinos
and latinas correct.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
Correct, but also the role of the Marines, as this
administration has tried to do an immigration enforcement. This is
not why people enlist. They prepare and train to fight
wars abroad. They don't sign up for immigration enforcement domestically.
And so I make my way to the Federal Building
in West Los Angeles. I get to the entrance that
(07:58):
I met with by now guardsman and an FBI agent
to escort me. I go through security screening, and that's
not a common even for a United States Senator. I'm
escorted up to a conference room upstairs and I'm awaiting
this briefing with representatives in Northern Command when I learned
that Secretary Gnome is having a press conference a couple
(08:20):
of doors down, and I share this detail because obviously
the administration is viewing lies and tries to paint the
story differently. These are the facts I hear about the
press conference, and I ask my escorts if it's possible
to go over and listen, because maybe, just maybe there
will be some information shared at this press conference that
can be informer, that could be helpful in understanding what's
(08:42):
going on. I didn't just get up and walk, I ask.
They escorted me over, They opened the door for me,
They led me and stood near me as I was
listening for I don't know what seemed at least five
maybe ten minutes. Not shocked that there wasn't new information
and being shared. It was a lot of just political rhetoric.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Once again, what follows is the shocking scene most of
us have seen by now. So what does this incident
tell us about everyone else's right to free speech? Senator
by the Yea and I talk about that when we
come back, stay with us. Yes, hey, we are back,
(09:37):
and we're going to continue. My conversation now with Senator
Alex Badilla. We now have seen multiple political officials. Newark
mayor from New Jersey, Rosbaraka, detained.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested at an
immigration and Customs enforcement facility Friday during visit with members
of New Jersey's congressional delegation. Mayor ros Barako, who's also
running for governor of New Jersey, was detained while visiting
the facility, which started housing detained migrants this month.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
New York City Controller Brad Lander also detained in a courtroom.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Break news New York City Controller and Democratic mayoral candidate
Brad Lander has been taken into custody by ice during
an immigration hearing in Lawer, Manhattan. Now we're told that
Lando was detained for obstructing the hearing at Federal Plaza.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
There is a specificity, and I know it's not lost
on you, Senator, when a Latino politician from California is
detained violently by federal officials. I just want you to
tell us what this is communicating to you and to
the country about the Trump administration being prepared to go
(10:52):
after people, including elected officials, who question him oppose him. Frankly, again,
just simply have questions.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
I've been saying since the incident time and again. If
this is how this administration will respond to a center
with a question, then you can just imagine what they
will do or what they are doing to so many
other people around the country when the cameras are not
on for their audacity to ask a question about their
rights or to dissent when they disagree with the administration. Look,
(11:24):
I probably represent California, but also so many people from
around the country. What I symbolize seems to scare Donald
Trump and this administration. The fact that you have to
ask me this question says more about them, right, because
the rhetoric we can say, Oh, it goes back to
the tone that Donald Trump said the first time he
came down the escalator of Trump Tower to announce his
(11:46):
first campaign for a president. It's because he understands our power,
he understands our grits, our resilience, our work ethic, our
patriotism to the United States of America, because of our
belief in the American dream. And for whatever twisted reason,
(12:06):
it scares him in some way.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Senati, there was a whole conversation that Latinos and Latinas
voted for Donald Trump, and therefore we're responsible for Donald
Trump winning the election. But it seems to me that
you're saying Latinos and Latinas in Los Angeles actually should
now be credited with attempting to save American democracy by
challenging I Do you believe ultimately that what's happening now
(12:34):
is the attempt to silence, to create fears so people
do not want to practice their freedom of speech. Do
you believe that that's part of the ultimate goal here?
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Yeah, no doubt. Donald Trump would love nothing more than
for us to stay silent, for us to cower and
to go into hiding. But again, Los Angeles and California
has been through this before. I was inspired to turn
to government and politics in the nineties with prop Position
ten eighty seven being on the ballot and seeing a
whole movement created then for our community to stand up.
(13:06):
And when I say our community, I'm not just talking Latinos,
because there's a lot of immigrants from Asia, from Africa,
from Europe that share this being scapegoaded and share the
need to speak up. Proposition twe eighty seven, as it
recalls and many ways a precursor to the vehetoric that
we're hearing at the national level now. But that's what
inspired me to leave a young engineering career behind, to
(13:30):
march in the streets with family and friends, and to
realize that if we want our community to not be
the target of attacks, then we need.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
To engage Senator Badiya. So after the incident at Secretary
Nomes news conference, you actually have been back in the
news again, and that's because Vice President jd Vance, knowing
full well that you are Senator Alex Bavilla, actually referred
to you as Jose Badiya. Now that is RACI we
(14:00):
can actually call it that. But also it's important is
an American citizen who in the mid two thousands was
charged with terrorism and was sent to prison for that.
So it's not it's a pretty strange mistake here. What
was your response to the Vice President?
Speaker 7 (14:20):
I know it was intentional. That's how this administration operates,
And to me, it's not just yet another example of
how petty they are, but how un serious this administration
is about the situation in Los Angeles or so many
other issues. Look, if you're the Vice President of the
(14:42):
United States, I have respect for the office, and I
would imagine that a vice president who takes the job
seriously could be at Los Angeles to get a briefing
on the ground. And part of getting an assessment of
what's on the ground is to talk to families that
are being impacted by the militarization that this administration has
(15:02):
chosen to create, or if not, the families, because clearly
this administration does not have empathy for so many migrant
families that are seeing family members and friends and other
loved ones being detained so aggressively and cruelly, maybe they
would take a moment to listen to employers who I
(15:22):
know are speaking up on behalf of their workers. And
if they couldn't and wouldn't do that, then how about
maybe just maybe taking some time to visit with Sheriff
Luna of Los Angeles County or Police Chief McDonald of
Los Angeles City so they could hear directly from them
(15:42):
what I've been hearing from them, which is frustration upon
frustration now for weeks, for the lack of communication, the
lack of coordination that the federal agencies have had with
local law enforcement. The unprecedented federalization of National Guard troops
only served to make the environment in Los Angeles more intense.
(16:05):
They escalated when it was unnecessary and counterproductive to do.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So it seems to me that what you're saying is
the protests that have been taking place in a city
like Los Angeles will actually transform young people, and many
young Latinos and Latinas are going to make some pretty
decisive changes in their lives because of the politics.
Speaker 7 (16:26):
I think that the California story is a good one
to replicate. Right, instead of cowering, instead of going into hiding,
the community by and large chose to engage. And you
had a couple of very important dynamics. Yet, people like
my parents, who had been in the United States for
decades with no interests or urgency in becoming citizens, finally
(16:46):
taking those steps not just to protect themselves, but to
be able to register the vote and participate in elections.
And so the California electorate in California political representation is
very different today, largely as a results of that. Second,
you had a young generation motivated and inspired to say,
you know what, that's enough. They're targeting not just us
(17:08):
individual but our community, and we're not going to stand
for it, and so we engaged. So now that's sort
of a playbook for other regions of the country to
potentially emulate. We don't go into hiding, we don't cower
or stay silent. But it doesn't happen on its own.
You have to choose to engage, you have to choose
(17:28):
to organize, you have to choose to advocate.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Which leads me to this question. The administration, again continuing
to push the limits of what may or may not
be constitutional. Whent and bombed Iran.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
A short time ago, the US military carried out massive
precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the
Iranian regime. Tonight, I can report to the world that
the strikes were a spectacular military success.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Congresswoman Alexandria or Cacio Cortez from New York said that
she believes that President Trump may have violated the Constitution
and Congressional Powers Act, that therefore this is grounds for impeachment.
I'm wondering where you stand on this right now.
Speaker 7 (18:15):
I don't think we're at that conversation yet. Because of
the volatility of the situation. Let me say this, he
should have come to Congress for authority number one.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Number two.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
We need to learn the decisions he made were based
on what intelligence because there's either tangible information to justify
an action like this, or there isn't. We don't know
yet because he did not consult or seek the authorization
from Congress. Still a lot of unanswered.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Questions, Senator. As you know a lot of people across
the country, I feel that there's nothing that can be done.
What is the message that you want to leave the
listener with in the sense of their personal responsibility about
what one does in this moment, especially after what you've
(19:08):
just lived through.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
So there's a couple of things I want to say.
Number One, it is absolutely natural and understandable to feel overwhelmed.
That's what Donald Trump wants. Who wants to overwhelm us
to the point of paralysis. So let's be mindful of
that and not give him what he wants. Let's channel
that anxiety, that fear, that nervousness, whatever it is, into
(19:30):
some sort of action. For some people, that's maybe calling
your member of Congress for the first time ever. Maybe
it is attending a march or a value and demonstration,
because I hope they continue, I hope they stay peaceful.
For others, it may be organizing a voter registration drive.
For others, it may be supporting an advocacy or organization.
(19:51):
Everybody can do something. And as I said in my
floor speech last week, if this administration is this fearful,
this threatened by one senator with a question, imagine what
they feel when they see millions of people across the
country doing something center Badiy.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Yeah, how are you managing your state of mind in
this particular moment?
Speaker 7 (20:17):
Praying a lot number one, trying to find the good
that will come of this experience. If the outpouring of
support I've gotten since that incident is any indicator. But again,
like anything, it's not just going to happen on its own.
So am I doing my part to shed light on
not just what happened to me, but the bigger picture here.
(20:39):
The foundation that this administration has set for being able
to try to call the sense on any issue anywhere
in the country that is a real threat to our
democracy and not just the general public needs to be
aware of that. But my colleagues on both sides of
the Aisle need to be taking this with the utmost seriousness.
(21:01):
This administration has been unchecked for far too long, and
particularly the Republican majority in the House and the Senate,
they need to be more loyal to the Constitution and
to their constituents than they are to a wannabe king
President of the United States.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Senator Alex Badilla from California, thank you so much for
joining me on Latino USA.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Thank you, Madia.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
This episode was produced by Renaldo Leanos Junior. It was
edited by Andrea Lopez Gruzado. It was mixed by Stephanie Lebou,
Julia Caruso and jj Krubin. Special thanks to Ondeck Studios
and Tracy Walton. The Latino USA team also includes Broxanna Guire,
Jessica Ellis, Victoria Estrada, Luis Luna Rori, mar Marquez, Julieta Martinelli,
(22:10):
Marta Martinez, Monica Morales, Garcia, Tasha Sandoval, and Nancy Trujillo.
Fernando Echavarri is our managing editor. Benilee Ramirez, Maria Garcia
and I are co executive producers, and I'm your host,
Maria jo Josa. Join us again on our next episode.
In the meantime, I'll see you on all of our
social media for sure. I'll see you on Instagram. And remember,
(22:32):
dear listeners, don't forget it's really simple. Just join Futuro Plus.
You'll get this ad free, bonus episodes, cheese, may et cetera.
And it's not a lot of money, so join Futuro
Plas and sion lapproximate es Joao.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Latino USA is made possible in part by California Endowment
building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians,
Skyline Foundation, and funding for Latino usas.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Coverage of a culture of health is made possible in
part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Dear leat you know USA listener. Before we start, I
want you to know that you can get this episode
without the ads. It's amazing. All you need to do
is join Futuro Plus. By the way, you can join
for as little as seven dollars a month. Come on now,
like come on now. That also gets you behind the
scenes access because a lot of stuff happens behind the
(00:22):
scenes that you need to know about. Sign up with
the link in the episode description. Please do that for me,
and all right, we're gonna get on with the show.
I want to specifically thank the Army. I want to
thank the Marines, the National Guard.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Our soldiers are military men and women who have shown
up here to help make sure that we have securities.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It is Thursday, June twelfth, and Homeland Security Secretary Christinome
is holding a news conference in Los Angeles, California. It
has been several days now of ongoing protests across Los Angeles.
People have come out protest against the raids by immigration
and Customs enforcement. Most of the protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Joy is a part of our people's even when we protest,
we've got a joy that no one knows where it
comes from but it comes from the resilience of our
people who built this country, brown and black people.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
There have been some violent incidents, but California Governor Gavin
Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has said the
situation is under control. Still. President Trump decided to call
the military into Los Angeles anyway, and that's also part
of the reason why Secretary Nome is holding this news
conference in order to reinforce the federal government's narrative that
(01:43):
Angelinos need protection from their own neighbors.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
I do want to thank the men and women of
law enforcement.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
They've been absolute rock stars.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Tension has been growing since the unsolicited military intervention into
Laws Angeles. Law enforcement officials are snatching people off the
street in unmarked cars. They're firing weapons with what they
call less than lethal ammunition directly into crowds of pedestrians
and journalists, and California Democratic Senator Alex Badiya wanted some answers,
(02:24):
so he walked into Nomes news conference.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
I'm Senator Alex kadier I have questions for the Secretary now.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
A few years ago, Alex Badya became the first Latino
senator for the state of California. He is also the
son of Mexican immigrants. But before the senator could even
finish his question, but thea is forcibly removed from the
news conference.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Behind my back.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
He is brought to the floor aggressively, and he is
handcuffed behind his back. A few days after the incident,
Badia gives an emotional speech on the Senate.
Speaker 7 (03:04):
Floor and it's those handcuffed.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
And marched down a hallway, repeatedly asking why am I
being detained?
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Not once did they tell me why?
Speaker 1 (03:20):
And he asks a question on a lot of people's minds.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
If that is what the administration is willing to do
to a United States senator for having the authority to
simply ask a question, imagine what they'll do to any
American who dares to speak up.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Back in twenty fifteen, when Trump was a Republican presidential nominee,
another Latino man was removed from a news conference that
is renowned journalist for heramos, excuse me, sit down.
Speaker 8 (03:55):
You weren't called sit down, sit down?
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Sit down?
Speaker 7 (04:00):
Go ahead, No you don't, you haven't been called.
Speaker 8 (04:04):
Go back to Univision.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So the removal of Padilla shows an escalation by the
Trump administration and his closest allies. We've seen this administration
go after journalists, go after activists, students, universities, and now
elected officials, including members of Congress. It's yet another example
of the increasing clampdown by Trump on free speech and
(04:34):
on those who oppose and question him and his government.
From Futuro Media and PRX, it's Latino USA. I'm Maria Josa.
Today I speak with California Senator Alex Badilla on what
(04:54):
happened to him and what the incident reveals about the
state of civil rights in the United State. Senator Alex Badiya,
welcome back to Latino, USA, and thank you for joining
us from Washington, DC. You are in the news right now,
and so I just want to know how you're doing
(05:16):
because you're a father, you're a husband, Yes, you're a senator,
but you're all of those other things. And I'm just
kind of doing an emotional temperature check before we start
the interview.
Speaker 7 (05:27):
Yeah, I think I'm doing okay, but you're absolutely right.
There's so many layers, so many dimensions to this. I mean,
it's not lost on me. I think the significance of
what happened, but because of the times that we're living in.
I think it has been important for me to continue
to speak out, to continue to encourage people who are
(05:50):
responding to what happened to channel that I pray that's
something good comes out of all this. On the personal side,
just making sure I'm processing top of mind or Angela
and the boys, because for them, as disturbing as the
visuals are for most people, My kids saw Dad, that
happened to Dad, and already just come into the office today.
(06:14):
My youngest says, who's going to protect you?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
All of this starts because Latinos and Latinas take to
the streets to protest ice in their communities. That is
the context in which you go to see Department of
Homeland Security head Christine nome.
Speaker 7 (06:33):
Right and the people of Los Angeles. We've been through
this before, if we go back to the mid nineties
in Proposition one eighty seven. So yes, Los Angeles and
California knows how to stand up for our rights. This
is our history. We know what to do when there's
an administration that is exceeding their authorities and undermining our
fundamental rights. That's what led me to attend the press
(06:56):
conference because for months and months, as I as a Senator,
along with my colleagues, have been trying to get more
information from the administration and they've been largely non responsive.
So as things were getting tense, we had secured a
briefing not from the Secretary, but from representatives of Northern Command,
the Department of Defense officials overseeing this operation. So that's
(07:18):
what led me to the Federal building that Thursday morning.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Senator is going to meet with military officials from the
Northern Command regarding overwhelmingly nonviolent protests led overwhelmingly by Latinos
and latinas correct.
Speaker 7 (07:36):
Correct, but also the role of the Marines, as this
administration has tried to do an immigration enforcement. This is
not why people enlist. They prepare and train to fight
wars abroad. They don't sign up for immigration enforcement domestically.
And so I make my way to the Federal Building
in West Los Angeles. I get to the entrance that
(07:58):
I met with by now guardsman and an FBI agent
to escort me. I go through security screening, and that's
not a common even for a United States Senator. I'm
escorted up to a conference room upstairs and I'm awaiting
this briefing with representatives in Northern Command when I learned
that Secretary Gnome is having a press conference a couple
(08:20):
of doors down, and I share this detail because obviously
the administration is viewing lies and tries to paint the
story differently. These are the facts I hear about the
press conference, and I ask my escorts if it's possible
to go over and listen, because maybe, just maybe there
will be some information shared at this press conference that
can be informer, that could be helpful in understanding what's
(08:42):
going on. I didn't just get up and walk, I ask.
They escorted me over, They opened the door for me,
They led me and stood near me as I was
listening for I don't know what seemed at least five
maybe ten minutes. Not shocked that there wasn't new information
and being shared. It was a lot of just political rhetoric.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Once again, what follows is the shocking scene most of
us have seen by now. So what does this incident
tell us about everyone else's right to free speech? Senator
by the Yea and I talk about that when we
come back, stay with us. Yes, hey, we are back,
(09:37):
and we're going to continue. My conversation now with Senator
Alex Badilla. We now have seen multiple political officials. Newark
mayor from New Jersey, Rosbaraka, detained.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested at an
immigration and Customs enforcement facility Friday during visit with members
of New Jersey's congressional delegation. Mayor ros Barako, who's also
running for governor of New Jersey, was detained while visiting
the facility, which started housing detained migrants this month.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
New York City Controller Brad Lander also detained in a courtroom.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Break news New York City Controller and Democratic mayoral candidate
Brad Lander has been taken into custody by ice during
an immigration hearing in Lawer, Manhattan. Now we're told that
Lando was detained for obstructing the hearing at Federal Plaza.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
There is a specificity, and I know it's not lost
on you, Senator, when a Latino politician from California is
detained violently by federal officials. I just want you to
tell us what this is communicating to you and to
the country about the Trump administration being prepared to go
(10:52):
after people, including elected officials, who question him oppose him. Frankly, again,
just simply have questions.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
I've been saying since the incident time and again. If
this is how this administration will respond to a center
with a question, then you can just imagine what they
will do or what they are doing to so many
other people around the country when the cameras are not
on for their audacity to ask a question about their
rights or to dissent when they disagree with the administration. Look,
(11:24):
I probably represent California, but also so many people from
around the country. What I symbolize seems to scare Donald
Trump and this administration. The fact that you have to
ask me this question says more about them, right, because
the rhetoric we can say, Oh, it goes back to
the tone that Donald Trump said the first time he
came down the escalator of Trump Tower to announce his
(11:46):
first campaign for a president. It's because he understands our power,
he understands our grits, our resilience, our work ethic, our
patriotism to the United States of America, because of our
belief in the American dream. And for whatever twisted reason,
(12:06):
it scares him in some way.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Senati, there was a whole conversation that Latinos and Latinas
voted for Donald Trump, and therefore we're responsible for Donald
Trump winning the election. But it seems to me that
you're saying Latinos and Latinas in Los Angeles actually should
now be credited with attempting to save American democracy by
challenging I Do you believe ultimately that what's happening now
(12:34):
is the attempt to silence, to create fears so people
do not want to practice their freedom of speech. Do
you believe that that's part of the ultimate goal here?
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Yeah, no doubt. Donald Trump would love nothing more than
for us to stay silent, for us to cower and
to go into hiding. But again, Los Angeles and California
has been through this before. I was inspired to turn
to government and politics in the nineties with prop Position
ten eighty seven being on the ballot and seeing a
whole movement created then for our community to stand up.
(13:06):
And when I say our community, I'm not just talking Latinos,
because there's a lot of immigrants from Asia, from Africa,
from Europe that share this being scapegoaded and share the
need to speak up. Proposition twe eighty seven, as it
recalls and many ways a precursor to the vehetoric that
we're hearing at the national level now. But that's what
inspired me to leave a young engineering career behind, to
(13:30):
march in the streets with family and friends, and to
realize that if we want our community to not be
the target of attacks, then we need.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
To engage Senator Badiya. So after the incident at Secretary
Nomes news conference, you actually have been back in the
news again, and that's because Vice President jd Vance, knowing
full well that you are Senator Alex Bavilla, actually referred
to you as Jose Badiya. Now that is RACI we
(14:00):
can actually call it that. But also it's important is
an American citizen who in the mid two thousands was
charged with terrorism and was sent to prison for that.
So it's not it's a pretty strange mistake here. What
was your response to the Vice President?
Speaker 7 (14:20):
I know it was intentional. That's how this administration operates,
And to me, it's not just yet another example of
how petty they are, but how un serious this administration
is about the situation in Los Angeles or so many
other issues. Look, if you're the Vice President of the
(14:42):
United States, I have respect for the office, and I
would imagine that a vice president who takes the job
seriously could be at Los Angeles to get a briefing
on the ground. And part of getting an assessment of
what's on the ground is to talk to families that
are being impacted by the militarization that this administration has
(15:02):
chosen to create, or if not, the families, because clearly
this administration does not have empathy for so many migrant
families that are seeing family members and friends and other
loved ones being detained so aggressively and cruelly, maybe they
would take a moment to listen to employers who I
(15:22):
know are speaking up on behalf of their workers. And
if they couldn't and wouldn't do that, then how about
maybe just maybe taking some time to visit with Sheriff
Luna of Los Angeles County or Police Chief McDonald of
Los Angeles City so they could hear directly from them
(15:42):
what I've been hearing from them, which is frustration upon
frustration now for weeks, for the lack of communication, the
lack of coordination that the federal agencies have had with
local law enforcement. The unprecedented federalization of National Guard troops
only served to make the environment in Los Angeles more intense.
(16:05):
They escalated when it was unnecessary and counterproductive to do.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So it seems to me that what you're saying is
the protests that have been taking place in a city
like Los Angeles will actually transform young people, and many
young Latinos and Latinas are going to make some pretty
decisive changes in their lives because of the politics.
Speaker 7 (16:26):
I think that the California story is a good one
to replicate. Right, instead of cowering, instead of going into hiding,
the community by and large chose to engage. And you
had a couple of very important dynamics. Yet, people like
my parents, who had been in the United States for
decades with no interests or urgency in becoming citizens, finally
(16:46):
taking those steps not just to protect themselves, but to
be able to register the vote and participate in elections.
And so the California electorate in California political representation is
very different today, largely as a results of that. Second,
you had a young generation motivated and inspired to say,
you know what, that's enough. They're targeting not just us
(17:08):
individual but our community, and we're not going to stand
for it, and so we engaged. So now that's sort
of a playbook for other regions of the country to
potentially emulate. We don't go into hiding, we don't cower
or stay silent. But it doesn't happen on its own.
You have to choose to engage, you have to choose
(17:28):
to organize, you have to choose to advocate.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Which leads me to this question. The administration, again continuing
to push the limits of what may or may not
be constitutional. Whent and bombed Iran.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
A short time ago, the US military carried out massive
precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the
Iranian regime. Tonight, I can report to the world that
the strikes were a spectacular military success.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Congresswoman Alexandria or Cacio Cortez from New York said that
she believes that President Trump may have violated the Constitution
and Congressional Powers Act, that therefore this is grounds for impeachment.
I'm wondering where you stand on this right now.
Speaker 7 (18:15):
I don't think we're at that conversation yet. Because of
the volatility of the situation. Let me say this, he
should have come to Congress for authority number one.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Number two.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
We need to learn the decisions he made were based
on what intelligence because there's either tangible information to justify
an action like this, or there isn't. We don't know
yet because he did not consult or seek the authorization
from Congress. Still a lot of unanswered.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Questions, Senator. As you know a lot of people across
the country, I feel that there's nothing that can be done.
What is the message that you want to leave the
listener with in the sense of their personal responsibility about
what one does in this moment, especially after what you've
(19:08):
just lived through.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
So there's a couple of things I want to say.
Number One, it is absolutely natural and understandable to feel overwhelmed.
That's what Donald Trump wants. Who wants to overwhelm us
to the point of paralysis. So let's be mindful of
that and not give him what he wants. Let's channel
that anxiety, that fear, that nervousness, whatever it is, into
(19:30):
some sort of action. For some people, that's maybe calling
your member of Congress for the first time ever. Maybe
it is attending a march or a value and demonstration,
because I hope they continue, I hope they stay peaceful.
For others, it may be organizing a voter registration drive.
For others, it may be supporting an advocacy or organization.
(19:51):
Everybody can do something. And as I said in my
floor speech last week, if this administration is this fearful,
this threatened by one senator with a question, imagine what
they feel when they see millions of people across the
country doing something center Badiy.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Yeah, how are you managing your state of mind in
this particular moment?
Speaker 7 (20:17):
Praying a lot number one, trying to find the good
that will come of this experience. If the outpouring of
support I've gotten since that incident is any indicator. But again,
like anything, it's not just going to happen on its own.
So am I doing my part to shed light on
not just what happened to me, but the bigger picture here.
(20:39):
The foundation that this administration has set for being able
to try to call the sense on any issue anywhere
in the country that is a real threat to our
democracy and not just the general public needs to be
aware of that. But my colleagues on both sides of
the Aisle need to be taking this with the utmost seriousness.
(21:01):
This administration has been unchecked for far too long, and
particularly the Republican majority in the House and the Senate,
they need to be more loyal to the Constitution and
to their constituents than they are to a wannabe king
President of the United States.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Senator Alex Badilla from California, thank you so much for
joining me on Latino USA.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Thank you, Madia.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
This episode was produced by Renaldo Leanos Junior. It was
edited by Andrea Lopez Gruzado. It was mixed by Stephanie Lebou,
Julia Caruso and jj Krubin. Special thanks to Ondeck Studios
and Tracy Walton. The Latino USA team also includes Broxanna Guire,
Jessica Ellis, Victoria Estrada, Luis Luna Rori, mar Marquez, Julieta Martinelli,
(22:10):
Marta Martinez, Monica Morales, Garcia, Tasha Sandoval, and Nancy Trujillo.
Fernando Echavarri is our managing editor. Benilee Ramirez, Maria Garcia
and I are co executive producers, and I'm your host,
Maria jo Josa. Join us again on our next episode.
In the meantime, I'll see you on all of our
social media for sure. I'll see you on Instagram. And remember,
(22:32):
dear listeners, don't forget it's really simple. Just join Futuro Plus.
You'll get this ad free, bonus episodes, cheese, may et cetera.
And it's not a lot of money, so join Futuro
Plas and sion lapproximate es Joao.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Latino USA is made possible in part by California Endowment
building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians,
Skyline Foundation, and funding for Latino usas.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Coverage of a culture of health is made possible in
part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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