NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Padilla, Schumer Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Arrest and Detention of SEIU Labor Leader David Huerta

Washington, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) aredemandinganswers from Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem; Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director, Todd M. Lyons; and U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Pam Bondi, regarding the arrest and detention of David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU United Service Workers West. Mr. Huerta was injured, arrested and detained by federal officials while exercising his lawful right to observe the conduct of immigration enforcement personnel on Friday, June 6, 2025. He currently remains detained in federal custody.
“It is deeply troubling that a U.S. citizen, union leader, and upstanding member of the Los Angeles community continues to be detained by the federal government for exercising his rights to observe immigration enforcement,”wrote the lawmakers.
“As U.S. Senators, we are privileged and proud to represent Americans like Mr. Huerta, who are pillars of their community and stand up for the fundamental rights of all residents of our great state. We have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and its components to ensure that the rights of Californians are upheld. As such, we demand a complete and comprehensive response to the following requests regarding this incident by Friday, June 13, 2025,”concluded the lawmakers.
Read the full text of the letterhereand below:
Dear Secretary Noem, Acting Director Lyons, and Attorney General Bondi:
We write to express our grave concerns regarding the arrest and detention of David Huerta, the President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU United Service Workers West.
On Friday, June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and several other federal agencies conducted numerous immigration enforcement actions throughout Southern California. During a workplace enforcement action, Mr. Huerta, a well-known and deeply respected community leader, was exercising his lawful right to observe the conduct of immigration enforcement personnel. In the course of doing so, Mr. Huerta suffered an injury and law enforcement personnel apprehended and subsequently arrested him. It is deeply troubling that a U.S. citizen, union leader, and upstanding member of the Los Angeles community continues to be detained by the federal government for exercising his rights to observe immigration enforcement.
As U.S. Senators, we are privileged and proud to represent Americans like Mr. Huerta, who are pillars of their community and stand up for the fundamental rights of all Californians. We have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice and its components to ensure that the rights of Californians are upheld. As such, we demand a complete and comprehensive response to the following requests regarding this incident by Friday, June 13, 2025:
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
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