Shri Thanedar Calls Out Racism, MAGA

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC —Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI), who is seeking reelection, is making news, this time amid a mix of racist backlash and sharp exchanges with conservative media following his push to abolish ICE.

Thanedar’s social media profile rose after he introduced the Abolish ICE Act, legislation that would dismantle the agency and end its enforcement authority within 90 days of becoming law. As he promoted the bill, the Michigan lawmaker faced a wave of online abuse.

What drew attention was a post from a hater that circulated widely showing six Indian American members of Congress with the caption, “My politics are tripling the size of ICE and getting these six on a one way flight back to Mumbai.” The image featured Thanedar alongside his fellow Indian American Congressional reps, Suhas Subramanyam, Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna.

Responding to the post, Thanedar framed the attack as racially motivated rather than ideological. “Remember when MAGA claimed that they were only in favor of deporting people who were here ‘illegally,’ and that it had nothing to do with racism?” he wrote, while also defending his colleagues from what he described as a vile smear.

The backlash extended beyond social media. During television interviews about the bill, Thanedar was repeatedly mocked for his accent and English.

Addressing those jabs, he recalled an incident in which ICE officers tear gassed a family, including a baby, who were not protesting. When critics questioned why a baby was present at what they described as a riot, Thanedar responded, “MAGA evidently can’t read. These are guys telling people to learn English.” The baby was in a car he noted that was passing by but was affected by ICE’s actions.