PADILLA WALKS OUT OF ‘ICE UNDER FIRE’ HEARING, DEMANDS DHS DATA ON CLAIMED 8,000% THREAT SPIKE TO ICE AGENTS

Sen. Alex Padilla exited a Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee hearing he called partisan theater, challenging DHS to release data behind claims of a 500%–8,000% surge in assaults and death threats against ICE agents. He argued the rhetoric is being used to justify recruitment drives and harsher enforcement despite most ICE detainees lacking criminal records. Padilla cited reports of aggressive ICE/CBP tactics, including incidents involving U.S. citizens, journalists, and clergy. The confrontation spotlights a growing transparency fight over DHS’s justification for escalated immigration enforcement.