A controversial DHS immigration poster featuring “Mr Singh” has sparked backlash from Sikh and Hindu groups in the United States (Img: X)
Washington: The Donald Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement campaign has triggered controversy in the United States after a digital poster featuring the name “Mr Singh” faced criticism from Indian American and Sikh groups.
The advertisement, shared by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), uses imagery inspired by the popular Transformers franchise. It shows a robot character confronting a brown-skinned man wearing a bandana with the message, “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr Singh.”
The poster is part of the administration’s broader campaign encouraging undocumented migrants to voluntarily leave the US. The initiative promotes the message “Self-deport or find out” and highlights the government’s voluntary departure programme.
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
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 9, 2026
A related video released by DHS also used Transformers characters while referring to undocumented migrants as “aliens”, a term commonly used by US authorities for foreign nationals.
The use of the surname Singh became the centre of debate as it is widely associated with Sikh and Hindu communities across the world, including a significant Indian American population in the United States.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 9, 2026
Critics argued that the advertisement appeared to connect a common Indian surname with negative stereotypes, raising concerns over racial profiling.
The Hindu American Foundation and Sikh Coalition criticised the campaign, saying such messaging could contribute to discrimination against communities based on identity and appearance.
The Sikh Coalition said millions of Sikhs in America carry the surname Singh and criticised what it described as targeting people based on their identity.
The Hindu American Foundation also called the advertisement discriminatory and urged authorities to examine the issue.
The controversy comes as the Trump administration continues efforts to tighten immigration enforcement and promote voluntary departures through its immigration programmes.
