US’s anti-immigration poster has racist tone – ‘Mr Singh vs Transformers’ - The Indian Express

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is under fire for using an AI-generated, Transformers-style a video and a poster targeting Indian-origin truck drivers, calling them “aliens”. The poster and video are part of the Donald Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and immigrant truck drivers. Specifically, the US DHS targeted “Mr Singh”.

The graphic, posted by the official DHS account on X on Wednesday, was designed like a movie poster titled ‘Transformers: Age of Deportations’ — a play on the original movie ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’.  It showed a large Optimus Prime-themed ‘Transformer’ with a DHS insignia facing a “Mr Singh”.

The poster carried the message: “America for Americans. Get off our roads; you don’t know how to drive, Mr Singh.” It also urged people to “self-deport”. Sikh and Punjabi Americans have a major presence in the US trucking industry, with Sikh advocacy groups estimating that they make up nearly 20 per cent of the country’s truck drivers.

In the post, the department said, “If you approach this nation with hostile intent, know this. We will defend ourselves. We will defend Americanism. We will defend our home.” It also asked people to report “illegal aliens on American roads” and shared a hotline number.

If you approach this nation with hostile intent, know this. We will defend ourselves. We will defend Americanism. We will defend our home.

Report Illegal Aliens on American Roads: 866-347-2423 pic.twitter.com/gJcDPA4CTH

The choice of a ‘Transformers’ movie to push the anti-alien campaign by the DHS is quite ironic. The entire Transformers movie franchise portrays a section of “aliens” (extraterrestrials in the movies), known as autobots, as heroes.

The autobots, again, did not seek “permission” to land on Earth in the Michael Bay film universe. But they eventually emerged as protectors and the heroes. Essentially, all transformers were “immigrants”.

In the comics, from which the movies were derived, showed the “aliens” as the having arrived on Earth at least 4 million years before humans evolved.

The irony in the choice of poster couldn’t have been more pronounced. The poster targeted truckers with an Optimus Prime-styled ‘Transformer’. Optimus Prime, the leader of the autobots (the ‘heroes’ in the films), transforms into a truck in the film.

The post triggered outrage online, with several users accusing DHS of using a racial stereotype to target and demean the Sikh community while promoting its immigration enforcement campaign.

Sikh-American news anchor Alec Nolan of Fox 7 Austin called the post “racist and demeaning” to people with the surname Singh. He shared his family’s history in the US. “My grandpa’s name was Dan Singh. His father, Katha Singh, came to America from India decades ago to seek a better life. He became a raisin farmer in California,” Nolan wrote.

His father, Katha Singh, came to America from India decades ago to seek a better life. He became a raisin farmer in California.

My grandpa eventually took over the family business and also worked as a truck driver.

This post is racist and… https://t.co/cNMQeTo474

He said his grandfather later took over the family business and also worked as a truck driver. “This post is racist and demeaning to anyone with the last name Singh,” he added.

Another user said: “You seem to only be protecting Israel and p*d*philes and the Epstein class. You don’t give a f*** about everyday Americans.”

One post shared a Wikipedia screenshot of Sergeant Uday Singh with the sarcastic caption, “Hmm.” Sergeant Uday Singh, who was born in Jaipur, was an India-born US Army soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2003 at the age of 21 after being shot during an insurgent attack near Habbaniyah.

Following the outrage, the DHS released details of the drivers already mentioned in the. It posted a long thread with the names, saying: “DHS is getting the worst of the worst off of America’s roads. Far too many American lives have been lost or permanently changed because illegal aliens who have no business being on our roads have been granted CDLs. Help us make America’s roads safe by dialing 866-347-2423 to report CDL fraud.”

DHS is getting the worst of the worst off of America’s roads.

Far too many American lives have been lost or permanently changed because illegal aliens who have no business being on our roads have been granted CDLs.

The list mostly had 6 Indian names and 3 names from Kyrgyzstan, Haiti, and Uzbekistan.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More