Texas Democrat vows to imprison 'Zionists' in ICE facility

Maureen Galindo, a Democratic candidate for Texas’s 35th Congressional District, has pledged to repurpose an ICE detention center into a prison for 'American Zionists and former ICE officers.' The controversial statement, made in an Instagram post, also referenced plans for a 'castration processing center for pedophiles,' which she suggested would primarily target Zionists. Galindo, a self-described sex therapist and housing advocate, is facing former Bexar County public information officer Johnny Garcia in a runoff election next week. Her campaign has been marked by accusations of antisemitic rhetoric, including claims that her opponent is part of a criminal network and that Zionist billionaires control global systems. Galindo has defended her remarks, asserting they target Zionists rather than Jews broadly, though she acknowledges most Zionists are Jewish. The Anti-Defamation League reports a 39% increase in antisemitic incidents involving deadly weapons, prompting Jewish Americans to seek self-defense training. Meanwhile, a Republican-linked super PAC has reportedly spent heavily to boost Galindo’s candidacy, framing her as a progressive underdog in the Democratic primary.