Florida Lawmaker Censured Over Anti-Indian Remarks Calling for Mass Deportation

Florida, USA: A local lawmaker in Florida has been officially censured by the Palm Bay City Council following a controversial series of remarks and social media posts targeting the Indian community. The decision came after a 3-2 council vote, as reported by The washington Post.

Chandler Langevin, a Palm Bay council member elected in 2024, faced severe backlash from residents, lawmakers, and Indian American advocacy organizations after advocating for the mass deportation of Indians from the United States. His comments, widely circulated online, have been described as racist, divisive, and dangerous.

According to Central Florida Public Media, the council’s resolution imposes several sanctions on Langevin. He has been banned from all committees, barred from speaking during commissioner comments, and is now required to obtain consensus before adding any item to the official agenda.

Among his inflammatory statements were posts claiming that “there’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States” and that “all Indian visas should be revoked.” He further added, “Indians are not assimilationists. They’re here to drain our pockets and get back to India rich… or worse… to stay.”

These remarks provoked outrage across Palm Bay, with local Indian American residents and community leaders attending city council meetings to condemn his rhetoric. Prominent organizations have called for his immediate resignation, emphasizing that such statements can incite hatred and violence against minorities.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Langevin defended his position, claiming he merely intended to “start a discourse” on immigration policy. “I’m not the first Republican to make a mean tweet,” he said, insisting that his words were taken out of context.

Langevin also announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had filed a lawsuit against the city following his censure. “They voted 3-2 to not only censure me but to add punitive measures that strip me of my primary duties as a councilman,” he wrote. He added that the Florida Commission on Ethics had rejected the complaint against him and that the governor would not remove him from office.

Calling the move “a violation of the First Amendment,” Langevin claimed, “This is a clear and straightforward case of retaliation. It sets a dangerous precedent where any majority can silence a minority for disagreeing with their policy.”

Mayor Rob Medina, who presided over the tense meeting, stated that council members were “overwhelmed by everything” that had transpired. He reaffirmed Palm Bay’s commitment to diversity, saying, “Immigrants founded our country. We are all woven into the very fabric of the flag—the United States of America.”

Advocacy Group Urges Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Remove Langevin from Office

Following the controversy, Hindus for Human Rights, a U.S.-based advocacy organization, issued an open letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to remove Chandler Langevin from his elected position. Under Florida law, the governor holds the authority to suspend municipal officials for misconduct.

During an October 2 council hearing, Bharat Patel, former chair of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, condemned Langevin’s rhetoric, stating that his words “echo some of history’s darkest rhetoric” and could “fuel violent attacks” against minority communities.

Prashant Patel, president of the Indian American Business Association and Chamber, also denounced the councilman’s remarks, labeling them as “deeply offensive and extremely divisive.” He emphasized that such sentiments have no place in American society and undermine the values of inclusion and equality.

Despite mounting pressure, Langevin has refused to resign, maintaining that he is being targeted for exercising free speech. The issue continues to stir debate across Florida and among Indian American communities nationwide, reigniting conversations about hate speech, representation, and the limits of political expression in the United States.