‘Deport All Indians’: Palm Bay Councilman’s Remarks Spark Bipartisan Calls for Removal

A Florida city councilman is facing growing bipartisan calls for his removal after posting inflammatory comments about Indian Americans on social media and then doubling down on his remarks, triggering outrage from fellow Republicans, state legislators, and community members.

Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin wrote on X.com about people who are from India, accusing those living in the country of exploiting the United States, according to Click Orlando. His posts, which called for the deportation of all Indians and a halt to migration from India, have been widely condemned as racist.

Langevin stated last week on X: “There’s not a single Indian that cares about the United States. They are here to exploit us financially and enrich themselves.”

The posts calling for all Indians to be deported and attacking the Indian American community prompted immediate backlash, according to WESH 2 reporter Megan Moriarty. Rather than walking back his comments, Langevin has since doubled down on them.

Space Coast Daily reported that Langevin has claimed that fellow Republicans issued “copy-paste” statements in support of Indian Americans only because he had spoken out against migration. In a follow-up comment, he said that diversity is “not our strength” and criticized those emphasizing inclusion.

Bipartisan Condemnation

The response from both Republican and Democratic leaders has been swift and unequivocal. Fellow Councilman Kenny Johnson is now asking Langevin to step down or face being suspended by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to Click Orlando.

WESH 2 reported that Republican leaders are condemning the controversial comments made on the councilman’s social media account, with some calling them racist. “They’re racist,” several Republican leaders stated, according to the station’s coverage.

Florida State Senator Debbie Mayfield sent a letter to Governor DeSantis urging action. “The actions of Palm Bay City Councilman, Chandler Langevin, are inexcusable for an elected official in our state. He has publicly espoused hatred on his social media towards the Indian American community, which we both know is comprised of some of Florida’s most hardworking, respectable” citizens, according to Space Coast Daily.

Dozens of Palm Bay residents attended a special city council meeting to call for Langevin’s suspension. “It’s an absolute embarrassment. What he has done is an embarrassment,” one attendee said, according to WFTV.

State Representative Randy Fine also condemned the remarks. According to WESH 2, Fine stated: “Silence can lead to violence, and so I felt very convicted to speak up.”

Palm Bay City Councilman Tres Holton told WESH 2: “If someone is elected into office to be a representative for citizens, they represent all the citizens. When you make broad stroke comments like that, that’s a red flag for me.”

Community Outcry

Dozens of Palm Bay residents attended a special city council meeting to call for Langevin’s suspension. “It’s an absolute embarrassment. What he has done is an embarrassment,” one attendee said, according to WFTV.

The City of Palm Bay scheduled the special meeting in response to the growing controversy, with Space Coast Daily reporting that the councilman’s anti-Indian remarks sparked widespread outrage in the community.

Several officials are now formally requesting that Governor DeSantis intervene. Click Orlando reported Wednesday that Palm Bay officials may request the councilman’s removal over his posts about Indians.

Under Florida law, the governor has the authority to suspend local elected officials for various reasons including malfeasance, misfeasance, or neglect of duty. Whether DeSantis will act on the requests remains to be seen.

Local 10 News reported that the city councilman in Palm Bay is facing pressure to resign after he was accused of attacking Indian Americans on social media.

Langevin’s Defiant Stance

Rather than apologizing or clarifying his remarks, Langevin has continued to defend his position. FOX 35 Orlando reported that the councilmember has doubled down on inflammatory posts, even as he faces growing calls for suspension.

His continued defiance in the face of bipartisan criticism has only intensified calls for his removal and raised questions about whether he can effectively represent all constituents in his district.

The controversy comes at a time of heightened national debate over immigration policy and rhetoric about immigrant communities. However, Langevin’s comments specifically targeted Indian Americans—a community that includes U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and people who have contributed significantly to Florida’s economy and society.

The Indian American community is one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States, with significant populations in Florida. Members of this community work in various sectors including healthcare, technology, small business, and public service.

The bipartisan nature of the condemnation is particularly notable in Florida’s often-polarized political climate. Republicans and Democrats have united in rejecting Langevin’s characterization of an entire ethnic community.

The question now is whether Governor DeSantis will exercise his authority to suspend Langevin, whether the councilman will voluntarily resign, or whether he will attempt to remain in office despite the controversy.

The situation has put Palm Bay in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with a small city councilman’s social media posts triggering a crisis that has reached the governor’s office and drawn condemnation from state legislators.

For now, Langevin remains on the city council, but his political future appears increasingly uncertain as pressure mounts from all sides for his removal from office.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.