South Asian Americans are experiencing a troubling rise in hostility and discrimination, with a new report highlighting increased anti-South Asian slurs and threats amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States.
A recent report has documented a significant increase in anti-South Asian slurs and threats, as community members express concerns about racism, workplace harassment, and anxiety over immigration policies. The findings reflect a broader trend of rising hostility towards immigrants and communities of color in the United States.
Sarika Kapoor, a longtime resident of Irving, Texas, recently encountered an unsettling experience while shopping at a local Target with her two young children. During their outing, a white man in his 50s or 60s stopped to stare at Kapoor and muttered, “So noisy, like India in here.” Initially, she did not fully grasp the comment’s implications, but upon realizing its racist nature, she felt disturbed and vulnerable in what she considers her home.
“It’s my neighborhood, and I visit this place at least once a week,” Kapoor reflected. “To think that someone can just casually make a passive-aggressive remark and go about his day while I am left scared makes me feel vulnerable in a country I now consider home.”
Kapoor’s experience is not unique. Across the nation, many immigrants and people of color report increasing hostility, harassment, and discrimination, which many attribute to the intensifying political rhetoric surrounding immigration. This climate has manifested in various forms, from hostile comments in public spaces to overt acts of discrimination, raising questions about America’s multicultural identity.
A report released on September 3, 2026, by Stop AAPI Hate, an advocacy organization focused on combating discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, provides statistical evidence of these troubling trends. Titled “The State of Anti-South Asian Hate,” the report reveals that the use of anti-South Asian slurs online surged by 109% between January 2023 and December 2025. Furthermore, 55% of South Asian adults reported that they or someone in their community had been affected by changing immigration policies or anti-immigrant sentiment.
This phenomenon represents a concerning shift, as an educated and financially successful community finds itself increasingly targeted by both overt and subtle forms of racism. Reports indicate that incidents of discrimination are occurring not only in working-class neighborhoods but also in some of the nation’s most economically thriving areas.
One multiethnic Indian woman from California, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted a disturbing experience at her local gym. She alleged that staff members refused to allow her to enroll in a class, with one employee dismissively stating, “My kind aren’t valued here,” and subsequently hurling racial slurs at her. This incident highlights the troubling reality faced by many South Asians in their daily lives.
The report also indicates that South Asians are disproportionately targeted by online threats against Asian communities. Between August 2024 and December 2025, 71% of all anti-Asian threats of violence tracked in online spaces were directed at South Asians, making them the most frequently threatened Asian group.
Interviews with South Asians across Texas, New York, and Chicago reveal a shared belief that the political climate surrounding immigration during former President Donald Trump’s second term has exacerbated hostility towards their communities. A viral video from June 2026 showed a man tearing an Indian flag outside Frisco City Hall while onlookers shouted anti-India slogans.
In a separate incident, members of the far-right group Take Action Texas protested outside the Karya Sidhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, holding placards with messages such as, “Don’t ‘India’ my Texas,” and “Reject foreign demons; Jesus Christ is God.”
The report also highlights a sharp increase in immigration enforcement against South Asian nationals. During Trump’s second administration, South Asians accounted for the highest number of arrests, detentions, and deportations among Asian regional groups, with deportations involving South Asian nationals reportedly 14 times higher than under the previous administration.
Venkata Vasamsetty, a Green Card holder and grandmother who has lived in the U.S. for nearly three decades, was arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An immigration judge later ruled in her favor, determining that the Department of Homeland Security had failed to meet the legal burden required to prove she had abandoned her permanent residency.
The uncertainty surrounding immigration policies has led some Indian professionals to reconsider their future in the United States. Mahesh Shetty, an H-1B worker in Seattle, shared that after losing his job at a global conglomerate, he and his wife decided to return to India rather than remain in the U.S. while navigating visa options. “The toll was too much to take,” he explained, citing the constant anxiety over layoffs and online harassment faced by Indians on H-1B visas.
The report also underscores how the work-visa community has been targeted despite their significant contributions to the American economy. A recurring theme in online discourse has been the xenophobic narrative of an Indian “invasion” or “great replacement,” portraying Indian individuals as threats to job security for white Americans. Debates surrounding H-1B visas have fueled a substantial increase in anti-South Asian slurs.
Another Indian woman from Texas recounted her experience of workplace harassment, where a customer directed racial slurs at her and expressed satisfaction with the idea of deporting her. Such incidents reflect a growing concern among South Asians about their place in a country they have worked hard to call home.
For many in the South Asian community, the issue extends beyond being told to “go back.” It raises fundamental questions about whether the United States still recognizes them as belonging in a nation they have contributed to for decades. The report serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by South Asian Americans in an increasingly hostile environment, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and action against discrimination and hate.
According to Stop AAPI Hate, the growing trend of anti-South Asian sentiment underscores the importance of addressing these issues to foster a more inclusive society.