TX Dem under fire after saying she'd make ICE jail a "prison for American Zionists"

Politics Texas Democrat Maureen Galindo under fire after saying she'd make ICE jail a "prison for American Zionists" By Anne Bryson, Joe Walsh Joe Walsh Senior Editor, Politics Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Read Full Bio Joe Walsh May 20, 2026 / 9:27 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A Democratic House candidate in Texas is facing widespread condemnation and accusations of antisemitism from both parties for comments she posted on social media, including a pledge to turn an immigration detention facility into a "prison for American Zionists" if elected — drawing allegations from top Democrats that her campaign may be backed by conservative groups.Maureen Galindo is running against Johnny Garcia in next week's Democratic primary for Texas' 35th Congressional District, which covers parts of San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Republicans are angling to pick up the seat, which is currently held by a Democrat but was made much more favorable to the GOP in Texas' redistricting effort last summer.In an Instagram post last week, Galindo wrote that she will "turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking. (It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles which will probably be most of the Zionists)." Galindo wrote in the same post — referring to herself in the third person — that "when Maureen gets into Congress, she'll write legislation so that all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic, since it's Zionists harming the Semites."Her social media feed also includes attacks on "billionaire Zionists," and a suggestion that "Zionist associated candidates and politicians" deserve "treason trials." Galindo has denied that she is antisemitic, instead saying she is opposed to "Zionist Jews."The comments have drawn stiff criticism from Texas...