Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voiced support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s efforts to apprehend illegal immigrants accused of child sex offenses, while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) called for those individuals to face the death penalty.In a Monday press release, ICE noted that it “arrested 214 illegal aliens for immigration offenses in the Houston area in the past six months who have been charged or convicted of a sex offense involving a minor.”Fetterman noted in an X post: “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.”
According to the ICE media statement, one of the individuals arrested was “Jose Guadalupe Meza, a 40-year-old, four-time deported criminal alien from Mexico who was arrested June 24 and has been convicted of theft and sexual assault of a child. ICE removed Guadalupe Meza to Mexico June 25.”
The news comes as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on border security and immigration enforcement.
Fetterman has previously voiced support for ICE’s efforts, calling proposals to abolish the agency both “inappropriate” and “outrageous.”
But that said, Fetterman joined the rest of his Democratic Party in opposing the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that provides tens of billions more in funding for ICE and its operations. Included in the legislation was additional money to finally finish the border wall that President Donald Trump started during his first term.
“Bringing together the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that we saw over the past four years has resulted in the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens, transnational gang members and child sex offenders,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting field office director Paul McBride, as noted in the release.
Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who also oversees ICE, came under fire from local Texas officials following the deadly floods in the state over the July 4 holiday.
Kerrville officials were mostly unprepared for the disastrous floods that hit the Hill Country, according to recently made public city correspondence, including emails and text messages that KSAT obtained through public records requests.
Among the records is a text discussion in which Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville, seems to make fun of Noem.
Hours before a July 5 press conference, held alongside federal, state, and local officials to update the public on rescue efforts, a city employee texted Rice, “Just saw you met Homeland Barbie. How is she?”
Rice replied, “Basically Homeland Barbie,” followed by a string of laughter.
Since Noem was appointed DHS Secretary earlier this year, the nickname and other similar titles, such as “ICE Barbie,” have been used online to mock her.
Given the seriousness of the catastrophe response and mounting criticism of its handling, the exchange has drawn attention.
Democrats, especially, have been critical of the response, which isn’t surprising. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, one of the most partisan left-wing Democrats in the chamber, claimed the Trump administration undermined FEMA’s preparedness by firing FEMA employees while flood victims were actively phoning the agency for assistance, but he did not explicitly blame Noem for the flooding itself.
Earlier this month, Noem refuted claims of delay by defending the federal reaction in an interview on Fox News Sunday.
After speaking with Texas officials, she said, within hours, more than 700 FEMA employees were on the ground. She added that the Coast Guard was sent out right away after that discussion.
A federal judge overseeing the Justice Department’s push to unseal grand jury records from Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case has requested more information before issuing a decision. In a four-page order filed Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer stated he intends to rule “expeditiously” but noted the DOJ’s initial motion lacks sufficient detail to address the legal standards required for disclosing secret grand jury material,
Engelmayer directed the DOJ to submit a supplemental brief by July 29 that explains in greater depth its justification for seeking the release of the records. The brief must also clarify whether prosecutors have already reviewed the transcripts and if victims were notified prior to the filing. Additionally, the DOJ must file — under seal — an index of all relevant grand jury materials, the full transcripts, a redacted version proposed for public release, and any other pertinent documents.
Defense attorneys for Maxwell also responded on Tuesday, requesting access to the grand jury transcripts before formally stating their position. “We have not seen them, and our understanding is that they have never been provided to the defense in their entirety,” wrote defense lawyer David Oscar Markus. He emphasized that reviewing the transcripts is necessary for Maxwell’s legal team to offer a meaningful response. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly does not oppose allowing the defense access to these materials.
Separately, the judge set an August 5 deadline for victims in the case to submit their views on whether the grand jury records should be made public. The case has gained renewed attention after President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release additional Epstein-related files, citing transparency concerns. Bondi confirmed that Blanche will soon meet with Maxwell and stated that the DOJ is prepared to hear any credible evidence she may provide involving crimes against victims.
The move has sparked political backlash, particularly from Democrats who view it as a politicization of the justice system. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) accused Blanche of acting as a “political agent” for Trump and potentially offering Maxwell leniency in exchange for politically useful information. Meanwhile, former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz told Fox News that while no official “client list” exists, some redacted names in FBI reports may implicate prominent figures. He mentioned George Mitchell, Bill Richardson, and Ehud Barak as individuals named in victim interviews but stressed that accusations alone do not equate to guilt.