Call Me José!” — Sen. Alex Padilla’s Shocking Comeback Stuns the Nation

California Senator Alex Padilla took center stage on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, addressing a whirlwind of controversy surrounding his recent detention at a press conference and the heated national debate over immigration and deportation policies.

Padilla, who was briefly detained by Homeland Security during South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s press event two months ago, revisited the incident with Colbert. A widely circulated video showed the senator being wrestled to the ground by multiple officers while attempting to question Homeland Security officials.

“I identified myself as a senator, I had oversight responsibility, I had questions,” Padilla said. “But as I’ve been saying every day since that press conference — what happened to me, it’s not about me. It’s about what this administration is doing to so many people across the country, especially in California, with this obsession over mass deportation.”

The senator pointed to ICE statistics, noting that the majority of people arrested, detained, and deported are workers who provide essential services — from farm laborers to caregivers and food service employees. He cited cases of legal residents and even U.S. citizens caught in aggressive roundups, including one incident where a farmer tragically fell to his death during an ICE raid.

Padilla’s appearance also came on the heels of remarks by Senator J.D. Vance, who referred to him as “José Padilla” in a dismissive tone. Padilla, however, did not shy away from the insult.

“If he wants to try and mock and attack by calling me José, I’ll tell you this: I’m proud to be a José,” he declared to applause. “Because this administration uses the names José and Maria to villainize immigrants — and it’s wrong. To all the Josés and Marias across the country, working hard, building communities, contributing to the economy — we are going to continue to stand up and rise up.”

The senator also condemned former President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy Marines and the National Guard in Los Angeles, calling it “counterproductive and dangerous.”

“Donald Trump was trying to escalate tension wherever he could. His wannabe tough-guy persona wasn’t helpful — it made things worse,” Padilla said, warning that fear and uncertainty still linger in immigrant communities.

He stressed that the administration’s actions — from workplace raids to targeting immigrants through IRS data and courthouse arrests — demonstrate that the campaign is less about enforcing the law and more about sowing fear.

“When this comes from a guy with 34 felony convictions, it’s clearly not about the rule of law,” Padilla said, drawing cheers from the audience.

Colbert wrapped the segment by noting that Padilla’s message resonated far beyond partisan lines, highlighting the senator’s determination to keep immigrant voices at the forefront of the national conversation.