Trump admin updates: Trump calls for expanded deportations in LA, NYC and more

Padilla held a news conference and discussed the incident during Noem's news conference.

The senator said he and other leaders have been trying to get answers from DHS about their deportation and immigration policies. He said he attended the news conference to question Noem directly.

"At one point I had a question so I began to ask a question. I was immediately forcibly removed from the room, I was forced to then round and I was handcuffed," he said.

Padilla said he did talk with Noem but warned that what happened to him was not acceptable.

"I will say this, If this is how this administration responds to a senator asking a question…you can only imagine what they do to farmers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California," he said.

The senator reiterated that he was not arrested and stressed that people need to peacefully protest.

"No violence, no vandalism, please peacefully protest."

Noem spoke with reporters very briefly outside the federal building and said she and Padilla spoke cordially for about 10 to 15 minutes.

She said she did not expect him to be charged with anything.

Noem said the incident happened because he took steps toward her without identifying himself first. As for the treatment he received, she said to direct those questions to "law enforcement."

-ABC News' Matt Rivers

Top leaders at the Justice Department issued a directive to prosecutors around the country Thursday to be prepared to file charges over the weekend in the event of violence or "obstruction" of police at protests planned in several major cities.

The memo to all 93 U.S. Attorney's Offices, which was reviewed by ABC News, outlines several potentially relevant criminal statutes that prosecutors could consider applying to violent actors at protests.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Aakash Singh further urged in the memo for U.S. attorney's offices to publicize when they may bring cases, and said the federal government will have "zero tolerance" for acts of "rioting, looting, arson, destruction of property, assaults on officers ... and obstruction of federal immigration efforts."

"Push out press releases whenever you file charges in these matters," the memo said. "We will not stop enforcing the law and we will not be deterred from keeping our districts safe."

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin

Sen. Alex Padilla's office released a statement following his removal from Noem's news conference.

"Senator Padilla is currently in Los Angeles exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight of the federal government's operations in Los Angeles and across California. He was in the federal building to receive a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Secretary Noem's press conference. He tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information," the office said in a statement.

-ABC News' Luke Barr