Senator Praises ICE Arrests in Child Sex Cases; Florida Congresswoman Demands Death Penalty

Senator John Fetterman (D‑Pa.) signaled his support for recent efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants accused of sexual crimes involving minors, even as Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R‑Fla.) offered a far more extreme response.

In a press release on Monday, ICE announced that over the past six months, agents in the Houston area arrested 214 illegal immigrants on various immigration violations, all of whom have either been charged with or convicted of sex offenses against children. Among them was Jose Guadalupe Meza, a 40‑year‑old Mexican national previously deported four times and convicted of sexual assault of a minor and theft. He was deported again on June 25.

Fetterman took to X to comment: “I don’t support or agree with all of ICE’s tactics or actions. I do fully support moves like these. This makes our nation more secure and all our children safer.” He clarified that while he reserves criticism for some aspects of ICE’s conduct, he believes operations targeting child sex offenders are justified.

Luna’s reaction, posted later on X, was far more extreme: “Skip deportation. Go directly to the death penalty. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.” Her statement drew attention for advocating capital punishment for noncitizens accused (not yet necessarily convicted) of such offenses.

ICE Acting Field Office Director Paul McBride, speaking from Houston, framed the agency’s push as part of a broader enforcement effort under the Trump administration. “By marshaling federal law enforcement assets across agencies, we have detained and removed record numbers of violent criminal aliens, gang members, and child sex offenders,” McBride said in the announcement.

Fetterman’s Stance and Political Nuance

Though Fetterman has recently supported targeted ICE actions, he has long opposed blanket expansions of the agency’s funding and reach. Notably, he joined most of his Democratic colleagues in rejecting the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which proposed billions more for ICE and included funding to finish the border wall initiated under Trump’s first term.

His position reflects a balance: acknowledging the state’s interest in public safety in particular cases, while remaining critical of broad enforcement sweeps or unchecked authority. He emphasizes that some ICE actions may be defensible—even if many are not.

Political Flames Beyond Immigration

Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, under whose authority ICE operates, has come under renewed scrutiny following July 4 floods in Texas. Local city officials released communications in which Kerrville’s city manager mocked Noem with references to “Homeland Barbie.” The remarks circulated as criticism mounted over preparedness and response to the disaster.

The exchange intensified scrutiny of Noem’s readiness and the federal disaster response more broadly. Some Democratic officials accused the administration of weakening FEMA’s effectiveness; Senator Chris Murphy (D‑Conn.) argued that recent personnel decisions at FEMA left the agency stifled just when it was most needed. While Murphy did not directly blame Noem for the floods, his critique added fuel to the broader debate about leadership in crisis.

Defensively, Noem told Fox News Sunday that she had quickly mobilized resources and personnel. She stated that more than 700 FEMA workers were already on the ground within hours and that the Coast Guard had been deployed immediately.