While the Indian-American community’s presence in the job and housing markets has long faced criticism online, a new front has opened up in the social media culture war: everyday grocery shopping.A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) containing a video from a Texas Costco has sparked a wave of “attack” rhetoric and targeted harassment against Indian-Americans.The caption sarcastically said, “Costco has opened its first store in New Delhi! Just kidding, this was filmed at a Costco in Texas, because the clip showed families shopping at Costco.” The post quickly became a lightning rod for anti-immigrant sentiment, with one user sharing a photo of a Home Depot about 3 miles away and another claiming that three other Costcos in the area looked similar. One user questioned, “Why are we importing millions of people when the country is $39T in debt and real Americans are having trouble getting jobs and paying for basics.” “I live just north of Dallas. I regularly go to three different Costcos, depending on what part of town I’m in at the time. All three of those Costcos are 90% Indian. They all drive brand new Teslas and they all live in homes worth at least $600k. @GregAbbott_TX did this on purpose and quite frankly, as a Texas resident, it’s hurtful.” Another couple.“I can confirm.. it looks like this now and it has actually increased after 2020.. Add large numbers of Chinese people into the equation. Houston, Dallas, FW, Austin and outer suburban parts of SA look like massive construction sites everywhere. Hundreds if not millions of new homes are being built over the past few years on former farmland and large lots. Wondering who all these people are moving here? Guess we know now And I bet they have all been allowed to vote and have been placed in top roles by corrupt HR departments..Americans and Westerners are definitely being driven out” One user claimed that a similar scene could be seen in gyms and local grocery stores. “I like people from all over the world. I really do, but living in North Dallas, I feel invaded. If they were willing to assimilate, it might be tolerable, but when they want to change everything, then no, no, thank you. America, love it or leave it,” wrote one.Many blamed Texas Governor Greg Abbott for the increase in the number of Indian-American residents in the state, especially Frisco which has increased by 4510% in the last 20 years. The rhetoric, however heated, points to a very real and rapid demographic change in the North Texas suburbs. Indians and other Asians make up 33% of Frisco’s population, up from 10% in 2010, according to a survey conducted by the city government. According to Indian-Americans, they are contributing to the economy. “When we buy homes, we’re not just buying real estate,” Muni Janarajan said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “We are funding world-class parks and Frisco ISD, one of the top-rated school districts in Texas, benefiting every child in the city.”However, since the beginning of 2026, there have been targeted attacks against the presence of Indians in the state and cities, particularly Frisco and Plano. Recently, city council meetings have turned into verbal confrontations between right-wing individuals and people of Indian origin. MAGA residents are fuming over Indians buying homes and securing jobs in the country, while attacking their culture in mass posts online.
