By October 2024, there were 46,000 cases of online trolling and 884 recorded threats. Within a year, those figures nearly doubled to 88,000, marking a 91% surge.
Following the Trump–Musk–Ramaswamy debate in December 2024 on visa and immigration issues, nearly 76% of threats were linked to claims about “Indians taking American jobs.” The administration’s decisions to raise H-1B visa fees and deport 104 Indian nationals further inflamed tensions, triggering a spate of shootings and temple attacks across Texas, Virginia, and California.
According to the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, racist posts and online abuse targeting Indians have risen sharply in recent months.
“Expel Indians” Slogans Spread Across Social Media
The report highlights that the rising racism is not limited to Indians alone — it affects the entire South Asian community, regardless of religion, citizenship, or ethnicity. It identifies four key reasons for the surge:
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Rising Global Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
A growing wave of anti-immigrant anger in the US, Europe, and Australia has become central to right-wing political rhetoric worldwide, fueling racist incidents.
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H-1B Visa Backlash in America
Many right-wing groups in the US claim that Indian professionals are taking jobs from Americans despite being “less qualified.” This has led to the viral spread of xenophobic slogans such as “Expel Indians from the country.”
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White Supremacy at Its Peak
Discrimination against Indians has become part of broader anti-Asian racism. White supremacist activity has surged following Trump’s victory, with hate crimes rising by nearly 80% during the election period.
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Trade Deal Tensions
Strained India–US trade relations have further fueled animosity. Certain incidents — such as a fatal Florida truck crash involving a Sikh driver — have been exploited online to incite hate against Indian-origin people.
Posts Against Indians Spiked After 2024 Election
Racist posts saw a major spike after the 2024 presidential election, driven by two key flashpoints — backlash to Sriram Krishnan’s appointment as a key Trump advisor, and Vivek Ramaswamy’s statements supporting expanded visa opportunities for migrant workers.
Rising Violence Across U.S. Cities
Between November 2024 and October 2025, multiple violent attacks targeted the Indian community across the United States:
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February 2025: An Indian-American businessman was shot dead in Virginia.
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March 2025: A father and daughter were killed in an attack on their grocery store.
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September 2025: Two students and workers were murdered in Dallas, Texas.
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September 2025: The beheading of Chandramouli Nagamalliah sent shockwaves worldwide.
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October 2025: A shooting at a Pittsburgh motel targeted Indian-origin owners and staff.
Throughout the year, temple vandalism and organized online hate campaigns persisted in California, while numerous hate crime cases involving students were reported in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.
The report concludes that racial hostility against Indian-origin communities has reached its highest level in years — driven by political rhetoric, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the normalization of online hate.
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