A poster released by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has triggered a controversy, with critics accusing the government of using racist and anti-Indian messaging.
The poster promotes the administration’s self-deportation campaign and warns immigrants to “self-deport or find out.” However, the message has drawn particular attention because of a line that reads, “Get off our roads. You don't know how to drive, Mr Singh.”
The reference to the surname Singh has sparked strong reactions online, with several people accusing the DHS of targeting Indian and Sikh communities. The poster also uses imagery inspired by the popular “Transformers” movie franchise.
The controversial driving reference comes amid increased scrutiny of undocumented immigrants working as truck drivers in the United States. Recent crashes involving undocumented Indian nationals identified as truck drivers have drawn attention to the issue. Following such incidents, the US has tightened rules surrounding Commercial Driver’s Licences and paused certain work permits.
The Trump administration has significantly intensified immigration enforcement since Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025. Its measures have included Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, mass deportations and stricter visa and immigration rules.
The Hindu American Foundation strongly criticised the DHS poster, calling it “anti-Indian profiling”. The organisation said the use of the surname Singh in the campaign was offensive and could encourage discrimination against Indian and Sikh Americans.
The foundation also urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take note of the poster and called on Paramount Pictures, which distributes the Transformers franchise, to examine the use of imagery associated with the film series.
The controversy also drew criticism from Alec Nolan, an anchor with Fox7 News. Nolan said the poster was demeaning to people with the surname Singh and shared his own family history to explain his reaction.
Nolan said his grandfather, Dan Singh, had Indian roots and that his great-grandfather, Katha Singh, had moved to the United States decades ago in search of a better life. His grandfather later became a raisin farmer in California and also worked as a truck driver.
“This post is racist and demeaning to anyone with the last name Singh,” Nolan wrote on X.
The DHS campaign comes as the Trump administration continues to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily rather than face enforcement action. While officials present self-deportation as an immigration enforcement measure, critics argue that messaging targeting a particular surname risks reinforcing racial stereotypes.
The controversy has therefore added another layer to the ongoing debate over immigration policy, discrimination and the treatment of Indian-origin communities in the United States.
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