May 20, 2026 — The American Zionist Movement (AZM) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent remarks made by San Antonio-area candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Maureen Galindo, who suggested that a local immigrant detention center should be turned “into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking.”
We stand in full support of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio—and with the entire Jewish and pro-Israel community in San Antonio—while echoing the Federation’s affirmation that “divisive and hateful rhetoric targeting the Jewish community has no place in our civic life.”
Singling out “American Zionists” for imprisonment invokes hateful antisemitic tropes that seek to demonize and marginalize members of the Jewish and pro-Israel community. Such language is not only divisive, but also dangerous, especially at this time of rising antisemitism and violence targeting faith communities across the country.
Political discourse must never become a platform for rhetoric that targets or scapegoats Jews or supporters of Israel. Public officials and candidates alike have a responsibility to reject antisemitism unequivocally in all its forms.
