Overview

• Ramaswamy’s May 26 social media tribute to his wife, Apoorva, was flooded with racist taunts urging the couple to return to India and mocking their heritage.
• Many attackers tied their abuse to his criticism of the H-1B visa program, accusing him of hypocrisy over policies that Indian nationals dominate.
• Ramaswamy has repeatedly called for major reforms to the H-1B system even as US Citizenship and Immigration Services data shows Indians accounted for over 70% of visas in fiscal 2023.
• Supporters rallied online to defend the couple’s milestone and condemn the xenophobic remarks, drawing bipartisan denunciations of the hate.
• Advocacy groups warn the incident reflects a wider rise in anti-Indian sentiment and racial hostility on US social media platforms.