U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi warned of what he described as a growing wave of anti-Hindu, anti-Indian and anti-desi sentiment, urging community members to become more politically engaged and speak out against discrimination.
Speaking to members of the Indian American community, Krishnamoorthi said people of Indian origin are facing new challenges, including rising hostility.
“Now we’re facing new challenges. New challenges. There is the rise of anti-Hindu, anti-Indian, anti-desi hate,” he said.
The Illinois Democrat cited a recent incident in which a Florida elected official called for his deportation, saying it reflected a broader climate of prejudice.
“The other day, a Florida elected official called for me to be deported. I’m not going anywhere. Are you? None of us are going anywhere,” Krishnamoorthi said.
READ: Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemns racist chants in Texas (June 19, 2026)
He said discrimination aimed at Indian Americans and other minority communities has no place in the country and urged people to challenge such attitudes.
“And that hate, that bigotry, that prejudice, that discrimination that are directed at you and your families and me and all of us has no place in America,” he said.
Krishnamoorthi also called for greater civic engagement, encouraging community members to become more active in public life.
“So I transition to my third and final point, which is it’s time to get more involved, more involved than you’ve ever been involved. You have to raise your voice. You have to speak up,” he said.
His remarks come amid concerns about anti-Indian rhetoric online, vandalism targeting Hindu temples and backlash tied to immigration debates, particularly around the H-1B visa program.
A survey by Stop AAPI Hate and NORC found that 51 percent of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults said they or someone they know experienced at least one immigration-related disruption over the past year. Those experiences ranged from carrying documents proving immigration status or citizenship to changing travel plans, altering daily routines, or facing detention or deportation.
Krishnamoorthi’s comments also come as some Indian Americans express concern over increasingly heated rhetoric surrounding immigration and high-skilled visa programs.
In recent months, Frisco, Texas, has drawn national attention after public meetings featured speakers claiming that the city’s growing Indian American population was changing the character of the community.
Conservative influencers have amplified those concerns through social media and public appearances, linking Indian immigration to issues such as jobs, housing and demographic shifts. The Dallas Morning News reported that these influencers have increasingly focused their attention on Frisco and other North Texas cities, framing immigration and H-1B visa issues around claims of an alleged “Indian takeover.”
City officials have pushed back on many of the allegations, saying they have found little evidence to support them. Indian American residents and community leaders, meanwhile, have criticized the rhetoric as xenophobic and divisive.