Florida politician faces backlash over calls for mass deportation of Indians

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Sun 19 Oct 2025 18.58 EDT
Last modified on Sun 19 Oct 2025 18.59 EDT


A city councilmember in Florida is facing backlash from national Indian American organizations, members of Congress, and local residents after posting a series of social media messages that insulted Indian people living in the US and called for them to be deported en masse.

Chandler Langevin, a Palm Bay council member elected last year, made derogatory comments about Indian people across several posts on the social media platform X over roughly three weeks this fall. He claimed that Indians come to America to “drain our pockets” before returning to India, “or worse … to stay”. His remarks have sparked widespread anger. Since 29 September, residents along with regional and national Indian American groups have crowded Palm Bay city council meetings and demanded that he step down.

On Thursday night, the council voted 3-2 to formally censure Langevin. During the meeting, Rob Medina, the mayor who also serves on the council, said: “We’re all overwhelmed by everything. This nation was founded on immigrants … We are all part of the very fabric of the flag, our banner, the United States of America.”

Hindus for Human Rights, a national advocacy organization, released a letter calling the remarks “overtly bigoted, dehumanizing, and dangerous” and urged Republican governor Ron DeSantis to suspend Langevin from his role.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/19/florida-politician-indian-immigrant-posts-backlash

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Link to Hindus for Human Rights LETTER - Open Letter to Gov. DeSantis on Anti-Indian Remarks: Suspend Palm Bay Councilman

[Walleye]

1. Does JD know about this?

[tulipsandroses]

7. I wonder if he thinks it's just a joke?

The way he’s been dismissing hate, when he has children that are minorities is mind boggling. Money will not protect them from hate and bigotry.

[BonnieJW]

19. Does JD even care about this?

[Irish_Dem]

2. It was only a matter of time, they were bound to go after the Indians next.

I live in a neighborhood with Indian families.
They are polite, respectful, quiet, law abiding, hard working, and cause zero problems.
They are educated and smart.

[dedl67]

5. 'educated and smart'. That's basically the problem.

The MAGA crowd hate educated and smart people, especially if they are immigrants.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Yes this is why Trump is destroying education, science, professors, doctors, etc.

[Deminpenn]

3. There are also many Indians who work in health care as

doctors and pharmacists for example.

[MaineBlueBear]

4. The next target

of the hate syndicate masquerading as a political party

[BonnieJW]

20. My dear friend is an 80 year old woman from India

She is a citizen and the widow of a professor who taught at Cornell. She has feared this since the putz came into office again. I'm so angry that she lives in fear at this stage of her life.

[Ray Bruns]

8. "or worse ... to stay"

Oh the horror!

[Norrrm]

9. 'JD Vance: Some Americans Are More American Than Others'

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016408458

'JD Vance: Some Americans Are More American Than Others'

Does that include your Indian heritage wife and your half Indian heritage children?

https://www.bing.com/search?q=JD+Vance+faces+backlash+for+referring+to+his+children+as+%27his+wife%27s+kids%27+in+new+interview&form=ANNTH1&refig=68f5a8978522443b80592ba09c923282&pc=ASTS

JD Vance faces backlash for referring to his children as 'his wife's kids' in new interview

When Trump says his disgusting comments about immigrants 'poisoning the blood of our country', does he mean Vance's family?

[Norrrm]

10. JD, have you been out looking for a proper white wife as befits your political republican status?

JD, have you been out looking for a proper white wife as befits your political republican status?

Surely you agree with your dear leader's claim that immigrants poison the blood of America.

Vance apologized to his white supremacists that his wife is not white. JD, have you been out looking for a proper white wife.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And during of all times - today is the start of the 5 days of Diwali

and we definitely need a lot more of the meaning behind that festival right about now given the darkness that 45 and his MAGats have thrust this country (and the world) into.

[IronLionZion]

16. Probably yes

Vance holds some nasty views. Being married to an Indian and having mixed race kids is often used as an excuse for spewing racist propaganda. Other racists have done that throughout history.

[Ohioboy]

11. Let's see how the republicans handle this

Will DeSantis do anything?

Will JD denounce, or will this be considered a joke?

Let's see....

Maybe they will surprise us.

[NBachers]

13. It's not just a Palm Bay Florida problem; it's a republican problem.

[hot2na]

14. Trump will make him ambassador to India

[BumRushDaShow]

15. And if that happened, Modi should immediately expel him.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

17. Where I currently live,,,,

There are many people and their families living here from India, Somalia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Central and South America. They are here to work, contribute to the country, etc.

When living in Rochester, the same thing. Many of the people I knew work at the Mayo Clinic in various capacities. Many of the Doctors are from overseas. My Internist was from Argentina. My Endocrinologist from India. My Eye Surgeon from India as well. My Rheumatologist from Egypt. The cornucopia of Medical experts from overseas adds to the diversity of medical knowledge beneficial to this country.

Going after ethnic groups like those from India, Somalia, etc., is RACIST. Pure and simple!

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. Langevin is a French name

Does this mean he’s a Cajun? If so, that would make him a descendant of refugees.

[J_William_Ryan]

21. "...mass deportation of [South Asian] Indians"

Clarification needed – some on the racist, bigoted right likely think ‘deporting’ native Americans is a fine idea.