During a visit to Los Angeles, US Vice President JD Vance ignited a controversy by accusing California leaders of recent violent immigration protests. He also referred Democratic Senator Alex Padilla as “Jose Padilla”, a name associated with a convicted terrorist. While addressing during a tour of federal immigration enforcement operations, Vance blamed Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass for inciting unrest by treating Los Angeles as a “sanctuary city”. “[They] have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement,” Vance stated.

JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate.

Calling him “Jose Padilla” is not an accident. pic.twitter.com/UOgdzdKcuy

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025

Vance further mocked the first Latino US Senator from California Alex Padilla, who was recently arrested during a protest. The Vice President referred to Senator Padilla by the name of a convicted terrorist Jose Padilla. “I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question. I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn’t a theatre. And that’s all it is,” Vance commented. “They want to go back to their far-left groups and say, ”Look, I stood up against border enforcement,” the Associated Press reported him as saying.

Senator Padilla’s spokesperson replied strongly, noting that Padilla and Vance had once served together. “He should be more focused on demilitarising our city than taking cheap shots,” spokesperson Tess Oswald said.

Newsom’s response to Vance’s remarks

Governor Newsom described Vance’s remark as “not an accident”. Referencing the known terrorist “Jose Padilla” and hinting that the name was dropped intentionally. “The Vice President’s claim is categorically false,” stated Newsom’s spokesperson. Mayor Bass also pushed back, terming Vance’s comments “utter nonsense” and a “stunt”, stating, “We kept the peace.”

Vance’s spokesperson later claimed it was simply a “mix-up between two people who have broken the law.”

The protests started after federal immigration raids launched on June 6, followed by President Trump deploying thousands of troops and Marines. Critics believe that the protests were excessive. On the other hand,  Trump maintained that without federal intervention, Los Angeles ”would be a crime scene like we haven’t seen in years”. In a post on X, Newsom also reminded Vance to focus on California’s wildfire victims. “We are counting on you, Mr. Vice President,” he wrote.

(With inputs from Associated Press)