CAPAC Condemns the Department of Homeland Security’s Discriminatory Social Media Posts
WASHINGTON:- Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Grace Meng (NY-06) issued the following statement in response to a series of social media posts from the Department of Homeland Security depicting Sikh and other immigrant drivers as enemies of the United States.
“We are outraged by the blatantly racist and xenophobic social media posts coming from the Department of Homeland Security that portray the Sikh community, and other immigrants, as enemies of the United States. Sikh Americans are not enemies of this country – they are our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends, and proud Americans who contribute to every part of our nation.
“Millions of Sikhs bear the name ‘Singh,’ including an American patriot and trailblazer, Rep. Dalip Singh Saund, who became the first Asian American ever elected to Congress in 1956. To suggest that someone’s name, faith, or immigrant background makes them a threat to America is not only offensive – it is dangerous.
“These posts are particularly disturbing at a time when anti-Sikh hate crimes are rising. Recently released FBI data shows that anti-Sikh hate crime incidents increased by 25 percent from 2024 to 2025. When the federal government uses its platform to depict an entire community as a threat, it risks giving hate and discrimination a louder voice and putting real people in danger. We have seen the consequences of this kind of rhetoric before, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we cannot allow it to happen again.
“CAPAC unequivocally condemns this appalling rhetoric. Our government leaders can and must do better.”
