'Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr Singh': DHS ‘self-deport’ poster sparks outrage over ‘Singh’ reference
PTC Web Desk: A social media poster shared by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of the Trump administration’s self-deportation campaign has triggered strong criticism from Sikh groups, Indian Americans and other community members.
The poster, aimed at people living in the US without legal immigration status, carries the warning “Self-deport or find out” and uses a reference styled after the Transformers film franchise. What has drawn particular attention, however, is another line on the poster that reads: “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr Singh.”
The reference to the surname “Singh” has led to accusations that the campaign unfairly singles out South Asians, particularly members of the Sikh community.
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Critics say the wording goes beyond an immigration warning by associating a commonly used South Asian surname with alleged driving violations. The controversy comes amid increased scrutiny of commercial truck drivers in the US, including claims surrounding several recent road accidents in which Indian nationals were allegedly involved.
The Trump administration has also moved to tighten rules surrounding commercial driving licences (CDLs) and work authorisation, while authorities have increased enforcement against undocumented immigrants.
Community organisations, however, argue that using “Singh” in a message about driving effectively amounts to racial profiling.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned the poster, describing it as anti-India profiling. In a post on X, the organisation pointed out that Singh is a surname used by Hindus, Sikhs and Americans and criticised DHS for what it called a racist and un-American message.
HAF also urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take notice of the controversy and called on Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the Transformers franchise, to look into the use of the film-inspired messaging.
The poster also drew criticism from Fox 7 News anchor Alec Nolan, who spoke about his own family history while reacting to the campaign.
Nolan said his grandfather, Dan Singh, was the son of Katha Singh, who had travelled from India to the US decades ago in search of a better life. According to Nolan, his family eventually settled in California, where his great-grandfather worked as a farmer, while his grandfather later worked as a truck driver.
Nolan described the DHS poster as racist and said it was insulting to people who carry the Singh surname.
The controversy comes as the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration enforcement campaign and encourages undocumented migrants to leave the country voluntarily. While the administration says its self-deportation messaging is intended to enforce immigration laws, opponents argue that the language used in some campaign material risks stereotyping entire ethnic and immigrant communities.
- With inputs from agencies
