US Department of Homeland Security Removes Controversial 'Mr Singh' Deportation Ad After Backlash
The US Department of Homeland Security removed a controversial Transformers-style deportation ad targeting 'Mr Singh' following fierce backlash from Indian-American groups and Democratic leaders over racial profiling. 'Trump’s government is trafficking in racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community,' California Governor Gavin Newsom Press Office said.
The US Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, September 10, removed a Transformers-style advertisement asking "Mr Singh" to self-deport following a backlash from Indian-American groups and Democratic leaders who described it as “racist propaganda.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used AI-generated imagery on X (formerly Twitter) to push its campaign against unlicensed commercial drivers, featuring a brown-bearded man with a tagline: “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive Mr Singh."
The advertisement sparked a strong pushback from Indian-American and Sikh advocacy groups, drawing condemnation from Democratic leaders such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Condemns DHS Deportation Graphic Targeting 'Mr. Singh'.
This Is Disgusting, Says Governor Newsom Press Office
This is disgusting.
Trump’s government is trafficking in racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community. pic.twitter.com/LUX5fOLfMA
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 10, 2026
Our Government Should Never Use Its Power To Demonise People
Our government should never use its power to demonize people or suggest that their faith, heritage, or identity means they do not belong here. Yet in an official social media post styled as a movie poster, the Trump Department of Homeland Security depicted a man labeled “Mr.… pic.twitter.com/YMa5H2ZKSc
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) September 10, 2026
Political Backlash and Social Media Row
The controversial campaign immediately drew sharp criticism from state officials and federal representatives over its depiction and targeted messaging. “This is disgusting. Trump’s government is trafficking in racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community,” Newsom’s press office said in a post on X. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi also condemned the social media post, stating, "Our government should never use its power to demonise people or suggest that their faith, heritage, or identity means they do not belong here."
He added, “More than 160,000 people in the United States share the surname Singh. When the government demonises a name carried by so many Sikh families, it fuels xenophobia and casts suspicion on an entire community.” Following the criticism, the DHS took down the initial advertisement, though it defended its broader enforcement mandate and hit back at Governor Newsom, accusing state leadership of issuing commercial driving licenses to undocumented individuals.
Indian Americans, Sikhs, Hindus, and South Asians Deserve Better From Their Government
.@DHSgov has now removed the post we called out yesterday.
We welcome its removal. But when a federal agency uses a racialized caricature of an Indian/Sikh man to make a political point, taking the post down is only the first step.
Indian Americans, Sikhs, Hindus, and South… https://t.co/yvaeXIwmkj
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 10, 2026
Community and Advocacy Response
Indian diaspora and civil rights advocacy organisations welcomed the removal of the post while stressing that broader systemic concerns regarding profiling remain. “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," it added. The Sikh Coalition noted that the controversy coincided with the sensitive period of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, highlighting that Sikh Americans continue to face targeted profiling based on appearance.
Context of the Enforcement Campaign
The contentious posts formed part of an aggressive social media drive by the DHS promoting its CBP Home program, which enables eligible undocumented foreign nationals to register for voluntary departure, offering travel assistance and a USD 2,600 exit bonus. Alongside the removed graphic, the agency published related material featuring characters from the Transformers franchise—including Optimus Prime bearing a DHS arm patch alongside the message “Self-deport or find out,” and Megatron addressing the status of foreign national truck drivers involved in prior traffic violations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2026 10:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
