UNITED SIKHS Leads Joint Civil Rights Complaint with DHS Inspector General Over Discriminatory “Mr. Singh” Post

October 15, 2026

New York, NY

On September 25, 2026, UNITED SIKHS and leading national civil rights advocacy organizations filed a joint administrative complaint to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG). The complaint demanded an immediate investigation into the Department’s Public Affairs communications, specifically the now‑removed “Mr. Singh” social‑media post published through the official @DHSgov account.

The post, which featured an AI‑generated South Asian Sikh man labeled “Mr. Singh” alongside inflammatory language such as “Self‑deport or find out” and “Get off our roads,” drew widespread condemnation from Sikh, Hindu, Indian American, civil rights, and elected leaders. The surname “Singh” holds deep religious and cultural significance for Sikhs worldwide, and its use to blatantly disparage members of the Sikh and South Asian communities using  federal public messaging forums was denounced as misuse of public resources to racially profile a religious minority and that aimed exclusively to stigmatize Sikh and South Asian communities.

Although DHS removed the post following public backlash, its deletion alone does not provide the public accountability for misuse of public resources and it does not remedy the harm caused nor guarantee safeguards against recurrence.

The joint complaint to the Inspector General was co‑signed by UNITED SIKHS, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (Representing 84 Gurdwaras), the American Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, the Human Rights Council of the World Sikh Parliament, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Sikh Coalition, and the South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO).

The complaint calls for:

• Independent investigation into the development and approval of the post using DHS social media.
• Accountability for any misconduct by DHS personnel or contractors.
• Binding safeguards to prevent future misuse of federal public communications
• Safeguards against federal government discriminatory and inflammatory messaging targeting vulnerable communities.
• Public retraction acknowledging the harm caused.
• Corrective action through engagement with civil rights stakeholders.

This unified stand by civil rights and Sikh diaspora organizations confronts discriminatory government messaging that weaponizes stereotypes and sacred identity markers, misrepresents federal data, and undermines constitutional protections.

The coalition underscores that removal of the “Mr. Singh” post is not enough. Only a full investigation, accountability for misconduct, and established safeguards can ensure that federal agencies never again use official public platforms to stigmatize protected communities.

By taking this step, UNITED SIKHS and its civil rights partners affirm their unwavering commitment to defending civil rights, religious liberty, and the dignity of all communities targeted by prejudice. The civil rights community will continue to press for transparency, corrective action, and systemic reforms to uphold justice and equal protection under the law.