Maureen Galindo, the top Democrat in a southern Texas House primary, is facing criticism after her campaign called for turning an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility into a prison for “American Zionists” and former ICE officers, as reported by The New York Post.
Galindo, a sex therapist running in Texas District 35, made the comments through her campaign’s Instagram account while engaged in a runoff fight against Democrat Johnny Garcia.
The district stretches from San Antonio to the suburbs of Austin and is currently represented by Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas. Republicans have redrawn the district’s boundaries with the goal of flipping the seat.
The controversy stems from a post in which Galindo’s campaign accused Garcia of “being paid to put Jews and Mexicans in concentration camps via Zionist trafficking networks.”
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The campaign then described what Galindo would attempt to do if elected to Congress.
“When Maureen gets into Congress, she’ll write legislation so that all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic, since it’s Zionism harming the Semites,” her campaign wrote on Instagram last week.
The campaign then called for the Karnes ICE Detention Center to be converted into a prison facility.
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“She’ll turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking. (lt will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists).”
Karnes Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center has been a longtime target of protest activity from the progressive left.
Galindo’s campaign made the remarks while trying to dispute Garcia’s claim that she wanted to put Jews in warehouses.
The watchdog group StopAntisemitism criticized the comments and called on Democratic leaders to apply the same standard to antisemitism on the left that they apply to the right.
“The standard that Democrats rightly apply to right-wing antisemites must apply equally to left-wing Jew-haters,” StopAntisemitism said in a statement.
“Democratic leaders must clearly, publicly denounce these bigots infecting their party without hedging.
“They must decline to appear on platforms with Hasan Piker. They must stop winking at extremist voices and truly stand for the principles they claim to stand for.”
Galindo led the March Democratic primary with 29.2% support, while Garcia finished with 27%. Because no candidate won a majority, the two advanced to a runoff scheduled for next Tuesday.
Garcia criticized Galindo on X, saying she was focused on conspiracy theories rather than issues facing voters in the district.
“Instead of focusing on table-kitchen issues, my opponent is pushing conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric. That’s why Republicans are spending to boost her campaign,” Garcia wrote Tuesday.
Thank you for calling it out, Jon!#TX35 residents are struggling to put gas in their tank and buy groceries. Instead of focusing on table-kitchen issues my opponent is pushing conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric.
That’s why Republicans are spending to boost her campaign. https://t.co/vy7YVKHXa1— Johnny Garcia For Congress (@johnnygarciatx) May 19, 2026
Garcia’s claim about Republicans backing Galindo centers on Lead Left PAC, a little-known group that has spent about $428,713 supporting her, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings.
Records show the group has spent more than $1 million across three Democratic House primary races.
Before the March primary, Galindo had raised less than $10,000, according to FEC records.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Madison Andrus accused Republicans of using Galindo’s comments for political gain.
“At a time when antisemitism is at historic levels, Republicans’ dirty campaign tricks aren’t just cynical, they’re extremely dangerous,” Andrus told The Post.
“Republicans are spending nearly $1 million to uplift a violent antisemite – no matter what your politics are, using virulent antisemitism for your own partisan gain is nothing short of disgusting.”
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez said the Democratic runoff had become a party fight.
“Democrats Johnny Garcia and Maureen Galindo are tearing each other apart in a full-blown primary civil war, turning their own races into a circular firing squad,” Martinez told The Post.
“Hakeem Jeffries’ pathetic handpicked candidates were already staggering through the cycle with embarrassing fundraising numbers, zero grassroots energy, and no real support from Texans,” he added.
Mailers supporting Galindo have highlighted her plans to push to impeach President Trump and dismantle ICE. Galindo has also called for Garcia, a former Bexar County Public Information Officer, to face trial for treason.
The Post reported that it contacted both Galindo’s and Garcia’s campaigns for comment.
Galindo has repeatedly criticized Zionists during the campaign and has also attacked “Jews who own Hollywood,” a phrase widely recognized as an antisemitic trope.
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