Chandler Langevin, a U.S. politician serving as a Palm Bay, Florida city council member, has recently faced intense scrutiny and backlash for his controversial social media posts calling for the mass deportation of Indians from the United States. Elected to the council last year, Langevin describes himself as a "Christian, family man, Conservative, Navy Corpsman (FMF) and a Jeffersonian" in his X bio. However, his recent statements have sparked widespread outrage and accusations of anti-immigrant sentiment.
Langevin's posts, primarily shared on X (formerly Twitter), included claims that Indians are in the U.S. to "drain our pockets" and exploit the country financially, ultimately enriching India and Indians. In one now-deleted post, he stated, "There's not a single Indian that cares about the United States...They are here to exploit us financially and enrich India and Indians. America for Americans". In another post from early October, Langevin called on former President Donald Trump to revoke all Indian visas as a birthday wish. He also reposted a Department of Homeland Security story about an Indian truck driver involved in a fatal accident, adding the comment, "Deport every Indian immediately".
Following the public outcry, Langevin attempted to clarify his remarks, stating that they were directed towards temporary visa holders and not the entire Indian American community. He also issued an apology "STRICTLY to Patriotic Hindu Americans while reaffirming all of my views on immigration policy and Christianity". However, this attempt at clarification did little to quell the criticism.
The Palm Bay City Council took formal action against Langevin, censuring him in a 3-2 vote. This censure entails the removal of Langevin from key committee roles and limitations on his speaking privileges. He now needs to seek consensus before adding items to the agenda and is silenced during commissioner comments. In response, Langevin has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming the censure violates his First Amendment rights and sets a dangerous precedent for silencing minority viewpoints within the government.
Langevin's comments have been widely condemned by Indian American organizations, community leaders, and fellow lawmakers. Critics argue that his rhetoric is deeply polarizing and could incite violence. Some have called for his immediate resignation. The advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights has sent a formal letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, urging him to use his power to take action.
Despite the censure and widespread condemnation, Langevin has refused to apologize for the substance of his remarks. He told The Washington Post that he aimed to start a discourse about immigration policies. He also stated that the censure is "reprehensible" and represents a stifling of different viewpoints and has said he has no intention of abdicating his seat.
