A report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) indicates that hate speech directed at South Asians, including Indians, Bangladeshis, and Pakistanis, has significantly increased online in the United States. The report, titled "The Rising Tide of Anti-South Asian Hate in the United States," was published on September 28, 2026. It found that the volume of hate speech on the social media platform X rose by 240 percent from January 2024 to June 2026, increasing from 12,904 posts to 43,843 posts.
The researchers identified over 542,000 hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with five of the six highest-volume months occurring in the latter half of that period. They utilized the United Nations definition of hate speech and excluded criticism that did not meet this threshold. The report revealed that nearly half of the hate posts accused South Asians of invading the US, stealing jobs, or threatening the country's demographics. The derogatory term "pajeet" appeared in 30 percent of hateful posts on X and 45 percent on fringe platforms. Posts portraying South Asians as dirty or unhygienic increased by 171 percent on X, marking the fastest-growing narrative.
The report highlights a long-standing history of racism against South Asians in the US, suggesting that the recent surge is influenced by immigration politics, economic anxiety, and the increasing visibility of South Asians in American life. It notes that the H-1B visa program, which allows US employers to hire skilled foreign workers, has been a significant point of contention, as Indians represent over 70 percent of H-1B visa holders. The report links spikes in anti-South Asian hate to political disputes over the program, including a $100,000 payment requirement imposed by former President Trump on certain new H-1B petitions in September 2025.
The report also cites Trump's rhetoric, including a speech at an AI summit in July 2025, where he criticized US tech companies for outsourcing jobs to India, which coincided with a rise in anti-South Asian sentiment online. Additionally, it references a now-deleted Department of Homeland Security post and a post from the Department of Education that contributed to negative perceptions of South Asians.
Economic resentment is identified as another contributing factor, with successful South Asians being portrayed negatively. The report discusses how Indian Americans, once seen as a "model minority," are now depicted as "opportunists and cheats." The increasing visibility of South Asians in politics, including figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has also been met with racist backlash.
The researchers argue that these trends are intertwined with broader societal anxieties regarding demographic changes and the so-called "Great Replacement Theory." They found instances of targeted harassment on social media, including doxxing of South Asians accused of job theft or visa fraud. The report mentions that generative AI has facilitated the spread of harmful stereotypes about South Asians.
While the report primarily focuses on online hate, it acknowledges the connection between online and offline hostility, citing incidents of violence against South Asians, including a stabbing of an Indian Muslim mall employee in Utah and a Sikh truck driver in Wyoming. The researchers conclude that online and offline hate can reinforce each other, as negative narratives circulate across various platforms and into everyday life.