A viral social media post by a Republican candidate has ignited a national conversation about rising anti-Indian sentiment and status anxiety in Texas.
The celebration at the University of Texas at Austin following the Longhorns’ comeback win over the Ohio State Buckeyes earlier this September was. for many. a peak moment of state pride. But for Bo French, a Republican candidate for railroad commissioner, the imagery of the crowd triggered a different response. Sharing a photo of cheering students, French posted on X: “I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.”.
He further claimed that such images showed “how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners.” The post targeted South Asian students. many of whom are U.S. citizens. By casting these students as foreign interlopers. French’s comments have transformed from an isolated online outburst into a significant political flashpoint. highlighting a growing far-right campaign to demonize people of Indian descent.
This rhetoric is gaining traction in Texas, home to over half a million Indian Americans. Sidharth Ram. founder of the Indian American Advocacy Council. noted the danger in the candidate’s assumption: “He assumed every brown person in that picture is not American. which is scary because he is a politician running for statewide office.”.
While influencers target scenes as mundane as shoppers at a Costco to fuel a narrative of a “desi takeover. ” the strategy relies on preying upon middle-class anxieties. A 2024 study led by Yale researcher Leah Boustan identified a phenomenon in high-income California school districts where white enrollment declined as Asian student populations grew. While Boustan noted her research could not pinpoint the exact cause of this “white flight. ” she pointed to the role of merit-based admissions pressures. where test scores rise with the arrival of high-performing students. potentially heightening tensions for families worried about their own prospects.
In Texas. the state’s “top 10 percent” law—which guarantees admission to public universities for top-performing high school graduates—creates a competitive academic landscape. When economic uncertainty looms, successful minority groups often find themselves cast as scapegoats. Suhag Shukla. executive director of the Hindu American Foundation. sees a historical parallel: “For the most part. we’re physically identifiable. And then you add all the other elements that the Jewish community has had in terms of economic and educational success…the success and the cohesiveness of their communities. in spite of assimilation. is what’s made them a historic target.”.
The political establishment in Texas remains divided. While outgoing Sen. John Cornyn rejected French, high-profile figures like Gov. Greg Abbott have attempted to navigate the divide. Abbott. who has maintained close ties to the Indian community. responded to the controversy by defending the diverse fan base at the football game while simultaneously touting his efforts to tighten immigration laws and freeze H1B visas at state universities. Meanwhile. organizations like Turning Point USA and figures like the late Charlie Kirk have actively campaigned against H1B pathways. framing the visa program as a primary threat to American labor.
Within the Indian American community, reactions remain mixed. Some. like Swapan Dhairyawan. a Houston-based Republican. continue to advocate for civic participation. emphasizing that their values—family. faith. and low taxation—align with conservative ideals. He intends to cast a write-in vote rather than supporting French. Others. like entrepreneur Karthik Soora and community advocate Ashish Agrawal. remain hopeful that increased voter turnout and continued engagement will force local politicians to view them as an essential. rather than expendable. constituency.
Despite the vitriol, many remain resolute. “We have just as much a right to be here and consider America home,” Shukla said. “And we have a brilliant constitutional framework that has allowed pluralism to grow and flourish.”
Texas Indian Americans Bo French Greg Abbott politics immigration H1B discrimination education