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

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has faced criticism over an anti-immigration campaign targeting Indian-origin truck drivers. The campaign includes an AI-generated video and a poster, posted on social media by the official DHS account, which are part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The poster, styled as a Transformers movie, features Optimus Prime confronting Mr. Singh, with the message "Get off the roads, Mr. Singh. America for Americans. Get off our roads; you don't know how to drive, Mr. Singh." The DHS also urged citizens to report illegal aliens on American roads via a hotline number. The choice of a Transformers movie poster to address this issue is seen as ironic, given the franchise's portrayal of aliens as heroes rather than threats.

The post sparked outrage, with Sikh-American personalities accusing the DHS of using a racial stereotype and demeaning the Sikh community. In response, the DHS defended its actions, stating that they were targeting those they deemed "the worst of the worst" endangering American lives on the roads.