A city council member in Florida, Chandler Langevin, has been formally censured after a string of social-media posts targeting Indian nationals and permanent residents in the United States. The council of Palm Bay voted 3-2 to discipline Langevin, stripping him of certain privileges such as serving on committees and speaking during commissioner comments.

Langevin’s remarks included statements such as “there’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States” and “Indians are here to exploit us financially … get back to India rich … or worse… to stay.”  He also called on former President Donald Trump to revoke every Indian visa and deport all Indians on his birthday.

He later claimed that his comments were aimed at temporary visa-holders rather than the Indian-American community at large.  Meanwhile, Indian-American advocacy groups and local residents called his remarks hateful and divisive, mobilising in large numbers at council meetings.  The mayor of Palm Bay reminded the community that “this nation was founded on immigrants … we are all part of the very fabric of the flag.”