DHS removes 'Mr Singh' ad after Sikh, Indian-American groups call it 'racist and un-American'

Highlights:

• DHS removed the controversial “Mr Singh” advertisement from X.
• The ad used an AI-generated image of a brown-bearded man.
• Sikh and Indian-American groups called the campaign racist and un-American.
• Gavin Newsom and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi also condemned the post.
• DHS defended its broader campaign against unsafe commercial drivers.

The US Department of Homeland Security removed an advertisement from X after it triggered widespread criticism from Sikh and Indian-American advocacy groups and Democratic leaders, who accused the agency of using racial stereotypes in its campaign against unlicensed commercial drivers.

The AI-generated advertisement featured a brown-bearded man alongside the message: “Get off our roads, you don't know how to drive Mr Singh."

The post quickly drew criticism because “Singh” is a common surname among Sikhs and is also used by people from other South Asian communities.

The Hindu American Foundation, Sikh Coalition, HinduAction and the Coalition of Hindus of North America were among the groups that condemned the advertisement.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office also criticized the campaign, saying: “This is disgusting. Trump's government is trafficking in racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community.”

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi also condemned the post, arguing that the federal government should not associate a person's faith, heritage or identity with whether they belong in the United States.

Advocacy groups welcome removal

The DHS removed the advertisement, but the controversy continued. The agency responded to Newsom by accusing him of issuing commercial driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Indian-American and Sikh advocacy organizations welcomed the removal but said taking down the post was not enough.

“The DHS has now removed the post we called out yesterday. We welcome its removal. But when a federal agency uses a racialised caricature of an Indian/Sikh man to make a political point, taking the post down is only the first step,” the Hindu American Foundation said.

“Indian Americans, Sikhs, Hindus, and South Asians deserve better from their government,” the organization added.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America said: “Enforce the law. Do not caricature a people. @DHSgov Dangerous drivers come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths and last names.”

The group added that singling out certain surnames does not improve road safety and could instead put Americans with names such as Singh and Kumar under suspicion.

The Sikh Coalition similarly pointed to the long history of discrimination against Sikhs in the United States.

“Twenty-five years after 9/11, Sikhs are still being targeted and profiled for how we look,” the organization said.

Transformers imagery fuels controversy

The “Mr Singh” post was part of a wider DHS social media campaign using characters from the Transformers franchise to promote its immigration and public-safety messaging.

One post featured Megatron negotiating the release of “aliens,” a term used by the administration for foreign nationals. The video referenced truck drivers Harjinder Singh, Rajinder Kumar, Bekzhan Beishekeev, Akhror Bozorov and Jasveer Singh, who were involved in traffic accidents and other crimes.

DHS also posted an image of Optimus Prime wearing a DHS patch and confronting the AI-generated brown-bearded character with the message: “Self-deport or find out.”

“If you approach this nation with hostile intent, know this. We will defend ourselves. We will defend Americanism. We will defend our home,” DHS said.

The campaign comes as DHS promotes its CBP Home program, which allows eligible undocumented immigrants to register their intention to voluntarily leave the United States.

According to DHS, participants who register for self-deportation can receive travel assistance and a $2,600 exit bonus.