What’s New?
Valentina Gomez, a Republican running for Congress in Texas, drew sharp criticism after suggesting undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes should be publicly executed.
In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, Gomez simulated shooting a migrant, claiming the measure would serve as a deterrent. Her remarks, following a high-profile subway murder in New York City where the suspect is an undocumented immigrant, ignited a firestorm of backlash online.
Newsweek contacted Gomez’s campaign for comment via phone.
The Context
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, was arrested on murder charges after a woman was set on fire and killed on the subway over the weekend.
After the gruesome incident made headlines, Gomez, a Colombian-born American political activist and former Missouri Secretary of State candidate, shared a controversial video on X calling for the public execution of undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes against Americans.
While making the proposal, Gomez simulated shooting a migrant.
NEW: Texas Congressional candidate Valentina Gomez releases video demonstrating the punishment she wants for illegal aliens who k*ll Americans.
“It’s that simple: public executions for any illegal that r*pes or k*lls an American.”@ValentinaForUSA pic.twitter.com/P0BzoVhaxN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh)
The dummy representing an undocumented migrant in the video was seen tied to a chair with their hands duct taped behind their back. Their face was covered with a hood.
After shooting the dummy in the back of the head, Gomez walked up to the camera and said, “It’s that simple. Public executions for any illegal that rapes or kills an American,” framing the act as a form of justice.
“They don’t deserve deportation,” she said to the camera. “They deserve to be ended.”
What To Know
Gomez’s political career has been def ined by controversy and provocative statements. She launched her 2024 campaign for Missouri Secretary of State with far-right positions that drew significant attention online but resulted in little support from voters.
In one video, Gomez jogged through St. Louis’s Soulard neighborhood, a historically LGBTQ+ area, saying, “Don’t be weak and gay. Stay hard.”
Another video showed her using a homemade flamethrower to burn LGBTQ+ books and dismissing countries that ban flamethrowers as “weak and gay.” Her antics were widely condemned by LGBTQ+ advocates and mainstream politicians but earned praise from other far-right figures, like former Representative Matt Gaetz.
In a video shared on X, Valentina Gomez simulated shooting a migrant, claiming this measure would serve as a deterrent. Her remarks, following a high-profile subway murder in New York City, have ignited a firestorm of backlash online.
X
X limited visibility on the video after it was posted, citing its rules against violent speech.
“My video being restricted & my account getting suspended shows all of you that I am the biggest threat to the establishment because I call it like I see it, I give people hope, and I don’t need their money,” Gomez wrote after X limited the video’s visibility. “Remember, nobody is coming to save us. Stay strapped.”
Accompanying the post was a video showing the subway murder in New York.
In a written text message to Newsweek, Gomez criticized her opponents and suggested Texas Governor Greg Abbott make use of her video at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Governor Abbott should play my video at the border instead of those signs that don’t deter anyone. I choose to fight for Texas because Texas needs a warrior who will speak the truth, cook the crooks, and save the children,” Gomez said.
“How many little girls and women have to be raped and killed before our ‘leaders’ start doing their jobs? You can’t rehabilitate a pedophile, a rapist, or a murderer. Texas representatives in Congress are only good at funding Ukraine, trading stocks, and holding useless hearings and investigations with strongly worded letters—but no real results for the American people,” she added.
“You don’t mess with Texas, and you definitely don’t mess with me. I look forward to serving the farmers, families, and veterans of Texas in Congress,” she concluded.
What People Are Saying
Laura Loomer, conservative activist, wrote on X: “I love how @ValentinaForUSA rolled up with her handgun, Pearl earrings and Versace sunglasses with a FAFO message for illegal aliens.”
Carlos Montero, Argentinian journalist and former CNN anchor, wrote on X: “I think @ValentinaForUSA forgot about the Christmas spirit.”
Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, wrote on X: “She’s not just a fascist American; she’s Colombian. And as a migrant, she aims to spread hatred toward other migrants. The majority of Americans are killed by other Americans.”
What Happens Next
The debate surrounding Gomez’s comments is likely to continue. While her proposal is unlikely to gain traction in legislative circles, it has also raised questions about the boundaries of acceptable political discourse on policy discussions related to immigration and crime.