Democratic Rep. Jared Golden criticized fellow Democrats for engaging in “politics as theater.” He condemned Sen. Alex Padilla for disrupting a DHS press conference by rushing Secretary Kristi Noem, leading to his removal by law enforcement. Padilla, not wearing his Senate ID, failed to comply with commands, prompting the Secret Service to treat him as a threat.
DHS released a statement denouncing his actions. Golden also rebuked Rep. LaMonica McIver, who was indicted after forcibly entering an ICE facility in Newark in May, potentially facing up to 17 years in prison. Golden warned that such attention-seeking stunts distract from real legislative work. He emphasized that elected officials must behave responsibly, stating, “If you push a police officer, you are likely to be arrested.” Separately, four migrants escaped from Delaney Hall ICE detention center following a food-related disturbance. Immigration attorney Mustafa Cetin said detainees tore down a weak wall and attempted escape, with reports of gas odors and improvised tools.