Rising Racist Hate Against Indian Americans in the U.S.

Indian Americans are experiencing a sharp rise in racism across the United States, especially on social media. The issue recently became evident when FBI Director Kash Patel posted a Diwali greeting and was met with hateful, xenophobic replies. Similar racist comments targeted leaders like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, and even Diwali posts from the White House drew harsh attacks. Many Indian American conservatives were shocked, realizing that the political right—whom they believed valued merit—also harbored racial hostility toward immigrants. A major source of this anger is the H-1B visa program, where Indians form the largest group of skilled workers. Far-right groups accuse Indians of “taking American jobs,” cheating the system, and they amplify stereotypes portraying Indians as culturally inferior.

These narratives, once limited to fringe forums, are now widespread on mainstream platforms. Whenever India or Indian-origin individuals appear in the news—whether due to appointments, trade issues, or unrelated crime reports—fresh waves of racist hate emerge online. This growing hostility has begun spilling offline. Public officials have made anti-Indian remarks, protesters have held signs telling Indians to “leave,” and many Indian Americans report harassment in daily life. Alarmingly, violent incidents are rising, including a recent beheading in Dallas linked to racism. Experts warn communities to stay cautious, avoid unnecessary public events, and remain vigilant as hate-driven threats against Indian Americans continue to escalate.