A Republican candidate running for Attorney General in Texas, Aaron Reitz, has stirred strong reactions with controversial comments about immigration—especially regarding H-1B visa holders.
Reitz, who is seeking votes, pledged that if elected, he would prevent Texas counties such as Collin, Dallas and Harris from becoming like Indian cities such as Calcutta, Delhi and Hyderabad. This rhetoric directly targeted Indian immigrants and has raised serious concerns among critics.
In his campaign messaging on social media, Reitz described the H-1B visa programme as a “cheap labor scam” and said he would deport many H-1B visa holders while insisting that others must “assimilate” into American culture.
He also threatened to take action against companies that hire foreign workers under these visas, accusing them of exploiting Texas’ economic climate.
Anti-immigration remarks like these are rare in mainstream political campaigning, especially when they specifically single out people from one country.
Analysts say Reitz’s statements have alarmed many in the Indian and broader immigrant communities in the United States.
Immigration lawyers and advocates have pointed out that Indians make up less than 2% of Texas’ population, underlining that the fears expressed in the campaign messages do not match demographic reality. Many worry that such rhetoric could fuel division and prejudice.
The controversy has led to questions about who is backing the candidate’s campaign and what impact such anti-immigrant messaging might have on political discourse ahead of the elections.
Critics say the issue highlights deeper tensions around immigration policy and workforce competition in the United States.