最新杏吧原创

Members of Congress from both sides of the Mississippi took time Friday to lambaste President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration for what they called a heavy-handed approach to immigration-related protests.

Specifically, the administration was taken to task for its response Thursday to U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, being forcibly removed after he showed up unexpectedly at a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

鈥淭hese strong-arm tactics are totally unacceptable,鈥� said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois鈥櫬爏enior Democratic senator, who described Padilla as a 鈥渢alented鈥� legislator who he has worked with on legislation.

Durbin was in St. Clair County on Friday to acknowledge the completion of the first phase of sewer and flooding work in Cahokia Heights, which was paid for by about $13.5 million in federal money.

An East 最新杏吧原创 native, Durbin is not seeking reelection in 2026. None of the early Democratic favorites to succeed him are from downstate Illinois.

After the press conference, Durbin was asked about the immigration protests planned for this weekend.

鈥淏y all means, exercise your (First Amendment) rights under the Constitution 鈥� but that does not include violence,鈥� Durbin said. 鈥淪o do it peacefully.鈥�

Gov. Mike Kehoe already has activated the National Guard in Missouri, which could assist local law enforcement officers should the need arise.

Two local protests on Tuesday,聽which drew about 200 people each聽on Tuesday, were peaceful. But immigration raids in Los Angeles have sparked days of protests and clashes with police and pushed Trump to send in military troops.

Another Democratic member of Illinois鈥� congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Springfield, joined Durbin in opposing the action against Padilla.

鈥淭his is appalling. A sitting U.S. senator was just thrown to the ground and handcuffed for asking a question,鈥� Budzinski said in her post, which also included a video clip of the confrontation.

鈥淚nterrupting a press conference isn鈥檛 a crime and peaceful protest is a fundamental right for all,鈥� she said.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, a 最新杏吧原创 Democrat, took to social media to blast the Secret Service response to Padilla.

鈥淩epublicans aren鈥檛 flirting with authoritarianism聽鈥� they鈥檙e in an all-out sprint towards it,鈥� said Bell, who also included a video clip of the incident.

鈥淭his is the most disgusting and disturbing political movement in modern American history,鈥� he said.