'A very inefficient process': Sen. Padilla on immigration court hearings

(FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. Senator for California Alex Padilla (D) was in San Diego on Wednesday to observe immigration hearings at the federal courthouse and visited FOX 5 News for a conversation about California's redistricting efforts, a push to investigate Trump's border czar, and a possible run for governor.

His visit to the courthouse comes after several months of heightened immigration enforcement by the Trump administration across the country.

Padilla started the conversation by addressing a deadly Wednesday morning shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas that authorities are investigating as an "act of targeted violence."

"Let me just, off the top, say how heartbroken we all are and should be about the news out of Dallas this morning. Political violence has no place in America, whether it's on the left or the right, we all denounce it...we're better than this," Padilla said.

U.S. political climate

On the issue of the current political climate in the country, specifically after the targeted killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Padilla said Congressional members from both major parties are largely working to calm tensions, but he identified a major political figure who he says should have done more.

"After the killing of Charlie Kirk, I was encouraged because I saw an outpouring of denouncing that violence from across the political spectrum, for the most part. Sadly, the person who could have set the biggest example in America of uniting behind a calling for defusing political tensions, the president, he did not take that track...he could have, he should have..." Padilla said.

Immigration court hearings

Padilla is the senior Senator for California and the ranking member of the Immigration Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.

In that role, he came to San Diego County to observe immigration proceedings at the federal courthouse and said that he did not see targeted enforcement by federal agents against immigrants attending their hearings, and added that more could be done to help clear a backlog of cases.

"What I saw today, for once, it was not a ton of fireworks in real-time, but I did see a very inefficient process in the context of this administration's efforts to dismiss a lot of immigration judges," Padilla said.

"There's a big backlog, long wait times, and proceedings seemed to be rushed at times; we need more immigration judges and support staff, not fewer," he said.

"...With these budget negotiations in front of us, I'm bringing the message that we should be doing more, not less, to support the immigration court system to give people fair hearings on a timely basis," Padilla said.

Push to investigate Tom Homan

On the issue of the Democratic push to get more information about Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, after allegations that he accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents, Padilla said the issue presented "huge red flags."

"If this is true, there's a lot of questions. Why are they sweeping it under the rug? If the video exists, the House has requested that video, I'm joining my colleagues on the Senate side to request that video and any other records for this investigation which is clearly, clearly warranted," Padilla said.

Redistricting in California

The California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom passed a law to bring to voters the option to suspend for several election cycles the state's commission that establishes political districts and put in place districts that could give Democrats five additional House seats.

The action came after Texas followed through with Trump's request to redraw its own Congressional districts to potentially give Republicans five additional seats in next year's election.

While Padilla is against Trump's redistricting plan, he said, "Normally, a party in power would run on their record to try to stay in power in the next election. That's not what's happening here."

He highlighted the Republican Party's reduction of social and health programs, saying, "...They're running away from their record and their only way to maintain their majorities in the midterm elections next year is to rig it before it even begins."

"California, in my opinion, is rightfully responding..." Padilla said, adding that Prop 50, which will be put before Californians this November, is "A check against the Trump administration."

Possible run for governor

On the issue of a possible run for California governor in 2026, Padilla said, "It's something that people have asked me to think about, and I will in short order, but right now my primary focus is on Proposition 50."