Indian Americans in Brevard County, Florida, have found themselves targeted by inflammatory rhetoric from a local official. Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin sparked outrage after posting a series of remarks on X that have been widely condemned as bigoted and divisive toward the Indian community.
On September 28, Langevin wrote: “There’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States.” Just two days earlier, he had posted: “Deport every Indian immediately.”
The comments drew swift backlash for their openly hostile tone. Several Brevard County leaders denounced the remarks and voiced support for Indian American residents. Palm Bay City Councilman Kenny Johnson emphasized the need to respond, saying, “Silence can lead to violence, and so I felt very convicted to speak up this time.”
It’s official:
The sole Democrat on Palm Bay City Council has put an item on the agenda to call on @GovRonDeSantis to suspend me from office because of X posts I made demanding we keep Indians in India and America for Americans.
I don’t personally believe expressing my… pic.twitter.com/9ZkyICSJ0U
— Chandler Langevin (@ChandlerForPB) September 30, 2025
Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina swiftly addressed the fallout from Councilman Chandler Langevin’s rhetoric, warning of the harm such remarks can cause. In an open letter to the community, Medina wrote in part: “Recently, some public remarks towards Americans of Indian descent have caused pain and division. While each person is entitled to their own views, we must be clear: Words that demean or devalue others have no place in Palm City.”
The mayor also emphasized the contributions of Indian Americans, noting: “Americans of Indian descent have enriched the United States, as all ethnicities have, through leadership in business, science, politics, medicine and the arts.”
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Tensions escalated further when Langevin publicly rejected the mayor’s message. On X, he wrote: “Diversity is not our strength and no conservative would ever say that.”
At the same time, Palm Bay Councilman Kenny Johnson called for accountability. He is seeking a discussion and possible vote on recommending that the city attorney draft a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis requesting Langevin’s removal from office.
Langevin responded again on Tuesday, posting: “The sole Democrat on Palm Bay City Council has put an item on the agenda to call on governor Ron DeSantis to suspend me.” He added, “I don’t personally believe expressing my political opinions in the public square of X meets the requirements for dismissal.” Langevin doubled down further, saying, “I stand by my comments. Palm Bay will not become Dallas or Dearborn.”
Amid the controversy, other local leaders have moved to show solidarity with the Indian American community. Former Florida Senate president and U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, representing Florida’s 8th congressional district, wrote on X: “Our family stands with our local Indian community. Proud Americans who love our country. They always put family first, work hard, value education and are so generous to local charities.”
Meanwhile, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents nearly 20,000 members nationwide—including thousands of Indian American hoteliers across Florida—issued a strong statement condemning Langevin’s rhetoric. “The recent comments made by Langevin are unacceptable, divisive, and have no place in Palm Bay—or anywhere in America,” the association said.
“Calls to ‘cease Indian migration’ or ‘deport every Indian immediately’ are not only factually wrong, they echo some of history’s darkest rhetoric, drawing disturbing parallels to the language of hate that has led to violence and persecution around America.”
The controversy comes at a time when immigration remains a deeply polarizing issue in the U.S. Langevin’s remarks strike a particularly sensitive chord amid heightened debates over work visas. New H-1B visa rules have already created tension in the labor market, with far-right groups amplifying the argument that visa holders—many of them Indian professionals—are taking jobs from Americans. Within these circles, calls for even stricter immigration measures under the banner of an “America First” agenda have grown louder.