{"id":74210,"date":"2025-07-16T12:47:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T19:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=74210"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:48:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:48:34","slug":"senator-alex-padilla-unveils-immigration-enforcement-id-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=74210","title":{"rendered":"Senator Alex Padilla Unveils Immigration Enforcement ID Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_65 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_65\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span><a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/americancommunitymedia.org\/author\/selen-ozturk\/\">Selen Ozturk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_66 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_66\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><i class=\"tdb-date-icon tdc-font-fa tdc-font-fa-calendar\"><\/i><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2025-07-16T09:00:00-07:00\">Jul 16, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_67 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_67\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>One month after being handcuffed at a DHS press conference, Senator Alex Padilla has introduced a new immigration enforcement transparency bill.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_68 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_68\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"td-video-replacer\" data-id=\"undefined\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_video_wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"widget2\" class=\"td-youtube-player\" title=\"Senator Alex Padilla | Newsmaker Briefing | 7\/14\/25\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x0VhRr0Lpyo?enablejsapi=1&amp;feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;vq=hd720&amp;&amp;&amp;\" width=\"100%\" height=\"560\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_69 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_1 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_69\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/americancommunitymedia.org\/in-language\/el-senador-alex-padilla-presenta-el-proyecto-de-ley-de-identificacion-para-el-control-de-inmigracion\/\">Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/p>\n<p>One month after being handcuffed at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference, Senator Alex Padilla has introduced a new immigration enforcement transparency bill.<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic U.S. senator, one of two representing California, recounted the June 12 incident at a Monday, July 14 American Community Media (ACoM) briefing: \u201cWhen I was simply trying to ask a question at a press conference \u2026 I was not just physically forced out of the room, but put on the ground and handcuffed without any explanation,\u201d he explained, \u201cand repeatedly asking: \u2018Why am I being detained?\u2019 with no answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Addressing approximately 70 reporters, he continued: \u201cIf this is how this administration responds to United States senator who wants to ask a question to try to shed light, try to get truth, try to get information as to what\u2019s really going on, then we can only imagine what they\u2019re willing to do and what they are doing to so many people in all corners of the country \u2026 We hear what they say about protesters, we hear what they say about migrants, about any community of color or anybody who\u2019s willing to disagree with them on policy.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-visible-act\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The VISIBLE Act<\/h2>\n<p>In response, Padilla has introduced the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/congressional-record\/congressional-record-index\/119th-congress\/1st-session\/visible-identification-standards-for-immigration-based-law-enforcement-visible-act\/1953529\">Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The bill would require immigration enforcement personnel \u2014 including DHS agents, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal, state or local officers detailed or deputized for immigration operations \u2014 to display clearly visible identification during public-facing activities. This includes their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio  is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper video-seo-youtube-embed-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-player\" data-id=\"d6aSIXdCLuw\">\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-embed-loader\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-id=\"d6aSIXdCLuw\" aria-label=\"Load YouTube video\"><picture class=\"video-seo-youtube-picture\"><source class=\"video-seo-source-to-maybe-replace\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/d6aSIXdCLuw\/maxresdefault.jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 801px)\" \/><source class=\"video-seo-source-hq\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/d6aSIXdCLuw\/hqdefault.jpg\" media=\"(max-width: 800px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/d6aSIXdCLuw\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-player-play\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The bill would also ban non-medical face coverings like masks or balaclavas, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; require DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations; require annual DHS compliance reporting to Congress; and channel complaint investigation through the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one should have to wake up one morning and fear that they\u2019re being kidnapped by masked strangers,\u201d explained Padilla, adding that one reason he introduced the VISIBLE Act is that \u201cthere\u2019s been reported instances, not just in California, but across the country, of people\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/jun\/28\/civilians-impersonating-ice-officers\">impersonating<\/a>\u00a0ICE officers, which is very easy to do when ICE is not required to identify themselves on their body, on their uniform, when they\u2019re allowed to mask up, drive unmarked vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is a very big public safety concern for the community and for the agents themselves, because you don\u2019t know how an individual or a community is going to respond to somebody when they\u2019re not sure if it\u2019s law enforcement or not \u2026 when you don\u2019t have accountability measures,\u201d he continued, citing his DHS clash.<\/p>\n<p>The press event, held in a Los Angeles federal building, was hosted by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to highlight the federal response to ICE raid protests in LA.<\/p>\n<p>Following the incident, DHS posted on X that \u201cSenator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre,\u201d as he \u201cwas told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers\u2019 repeated commands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Padilla said he had been scheduled for a separate meeting down the hall which was delayed by the conference, and so he asked to attend it. He was escorted into the room by FBI and National Guard officials.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-we-can-t-lose-faith\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018We can\u2019t lose faith\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>The senator\u2019s bill comes amid shifting public views on hard-line immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/692522\/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx\">Gallup poll<\/a>\u00a0released last Friday shows a record drop in Americans favoring reduced immigration: 30%, down from 55% in 2024. Now, 38% want to maintain current levels, and 26% support increased immigration.<\/p>\n<p>The drop in support was starkest among Republicans, down 40 percentage points over the last year to 48%. Independents dropped 21 points to 30% while Democrats dropped 12 points to 16.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio  is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper video-seo-youtube-embed-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-player\" data-id=\"qatAgYMCB9I\">\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-embed-loader\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-id=\"qatAgYMCB9I\" aria-label=\"Load YouTube video\"><picture class=\"video-seo-youtube-picture\"><source class=\"video-seo-source-to-maybe-replace\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/qatAgYMCB9I\/maxresdefault.jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 801px)\" \/><source class=\"video-seo-source-hq\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/qatAgYMCB9I\/hqdefault.jpg\" media=\"(max-width: 800px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/qatAgYMCB9I\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"video-seo-youtube-player-play\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThose numbers tell what many of us have known all along. For all their talk about Trump on immigration, it always depends on how you ask the question,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cEverybody wants a safe, secure, orderly and humane border. There\u2019s never been a debate about that. We also want more humanity and fairness for long-term residents of the United States who happen to be undocumented.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2020\/06\/17\/americans-broadly-support-legal-status-for-immigrants-brought-to-the-u-s-illegally-as-children\/\">2020 Pew poll<\/a>\u00a0found similarly that 74% of American adult respondents \u2014 including 91% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans \u2014 \u201cfavor granting permanent legal status to immigrants who came illegally to the United States when they were children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the short term,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/know-your-rights\/immigrants-rights\">know your rights<\/a>. Regardless of immigration status, everybody has due process rights in the United States. This administration has tried to not respect those rights,\u201d said Padilla. It\u2019s part of our job to hold the administration accountable, to make sure people have those due process rights recognized and respected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the longer term, we can\u2019t lose faith. This country and our democracy is worth fighting for. That\u2019s why I do what I do,\u201d he continued, encouraging Americans \u201cto prepare ourselves for the midterm elections. People who are eligible to vote have to register. For people who are registered, talk to your friend, your neighbor, a coworker, a family member who may not be registered, because the ultimate political pushback is going to be at the ballot box next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BySelen Ozturk Jul 16, 2025 One&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s-a"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=74210"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74211,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74210\/revisions\/74211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=74210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=74210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=74210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}