Asian American Lawmakers Accuse Trump Administration of Fueling Anti-South Asian Hate After Foiled Hindu Temple Attack

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) have accused the Trump administration of contributing to rising anti-South Asian hatred following the arrest of a suspected white supremacist accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois.

The caucus condemned the alleged plot and criticized the administration’s rhetoric, political appointments and approach to combating domestic extremism.

“We also cannot ignore the Trump administration’s role in peddling anti-South Asian hate,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.

The statement was signed by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, First Vice Chair Mark Takano, Second Vice Chair Jill Tokuda, Whip Ami Bera, freshman Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and Chair Emerita Judy Chu. Bera and Subramanyam are Indian American.

The lawmakers cited the administration’s appointment of an individual who previously made derogatory remarks about Chinese and Indian people, alleged white supremacist messaging on official government accounts and rhetoric associated with the Great Replacement Theory.

They also accused the administration of weakening efforts to combat domestic extremism through reductions in FBI personnel responsible for monitoring white supremacist and militia-related threats.

“At the same time, the administration has weakened efforts to combat domestic terrorism by cutting FBI staff tasked with monitoring threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups,” the statement said.

The caucus pointed to a September 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate indicating that anti-South Asian hate speech on X had increased by 240% over the previous two years.

The lawmakers said inflammatory rhetoric from influential public figures had contributed to growing hostility toward immigrant communities.

Their comments followed the arrest of Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, in connection with an alleged plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora.

According to the FBI’s Chicago field office, Paporakis was taken into custody after local law enforcement received information about a potential mass shooting.

The caucus said the suspect, described as a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi, had allegedly expressed a desire to kill Indian Americans, used a South Asian slur on a gas canister and referred to Indian, Jewish and African American people as “subhumans.”

“We are horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, where CAPAC Member Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and his family worship,” the lawmakers said.

“This plot exposes the very real danger white supremacist ideology poses to our communities and houses of worship, and it cannot be viewed in isolation,” they added.

The caucus praised coworkers of the suspect who alerted authorities and commended law enforcement for intervening before an attack could occur.

The alleged plot drew widespread condemnation from Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned about the rise in hostility toward Indian Americans and Hindus.

“Anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric is at an alarming level in America, and now we are seeing that hatred turn into violence. Bigotry against any community has no place in America,” Schumer wrote on X.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth described the plot as “absolutely horrifying,” while New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim urged stronger action against anti-Indian hatred and violence.

Republican Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia, co-chair of the House India Caucus, also condemned the alleged attack.

“The plot to massacre innocent Americans at a Hindu temple is unequivocally wrong. Violence toward anyone based on a religion, political orientation, or race is evil,” McCormick wrote.

Illinois Republican Rep. Darin LaHood called for the suspect to be held accountable under the law.

Rep. Bill Foster, whose district includes Aurora, emphasized the importance of protecting religious freedom.

“Everyone deserves to worship in peace and safety, and no one should live in fear of being targeted because of their faith or ethnicity,” Foster said.

Rep. Ro Khanna, the other co-chair of the House India Caucus, expressed anger over the alleged plot, while Indian-American lawmakers Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera and Shri Thanedar called for stronger measures against hate crimes.

Jayapal said attacks against South Asians had been increasing both online and through rhetoric from government leaders. Bera urged Congress to take additional steps to address hate-motivated violence, while Thanedar called attention to rising anti-Hindu threats.

Other lawmakers, including Jamie Raskin, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Deborah Ross and Jonathan Jackson, also condemned the alleged plot and called for greater protection of religious communities.

Aurora city officials issued a statement declaring that hatred had no place in the community.

“Aurora’s strength lies in its diversity, and every Auroran and American deserves to live and worship without fear,” the city said.

The incident also prompted expressions of solidarity from religious and community organizations.

The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) condemned the alleged targeting of the Hindu temple, describing it as an attack on religious freedom.

“The targeting of a Hindu temple is not only an act of anti-Indian hatred, but also an attack on the fundamental promise of religious freedom in America,” said SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill.

Israel’s Consul General in Chicago, Elad Strohmayer, also expressed support for Illinois’ Hindu community and condemned the alleged plot.

India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, had earlier joined lawmakers in condemning the incident.

As of Thursday, the FBI, Justice Department, its Civil Rights Division and the White House had not issued statements about the case on X, although the FBI’s Chicago field office announced the arrest Wednesday.

The CAPAC statement did not identify the administration appointee or specific government accounts cited in its criticism. (Source: IANS)