Aaron Reitz, a Republican candidate for Texas attorney general, is facing sharp criticism after posting comments widely described as anti-Indian, racially inflammatory, and misleading.
Reitz sparked outrage after vowing that Texas would not “turn into either India or Pakistan” and attacking the H-1B visa programme, which he labelled a “cheap labour scam.” His remarks triggered strong reactions from Indian-American advocacy groups, immigration experts, and legal professionals, who warned that such rhetoric risks fuelling ethnic tensions in one of America’s most diverse states.
What Reitz said and how the controversy began
The controversy began when a social media user commented on a video posted by Reitz, asking, “What will you do about the Indian invasion of Texas?…”
Responding in a lengthy post, Reitz claimed that several Texas counties would soon resemble Indian cities due to the growing presence of foreign workers.
“Collin, Dallas, & Harris Counties may soon be renamed Calcutta, Delhi, & Hyderabad Counties, given how bad the invasion of unassimilated & unassimilable Indians has become. Globalist corporations move to Texas to exploit our favourable economic climate,” Reitz wrote.
He went on to attack the H-1B visa programme, calling it a “cheap labour scam.”
“Having contempt for native-born American workers, they then facilitate the H-1B scam for cheap labour. All of it must be rolled back.”
Reitz further added, “As AG, I’ll partner with the Trump Administration to re-open the books on all their legal paperwork. Deport most. Assimilate the rest.”
Collin, Dallas, & Harris Counties may soon be renamed Calcutta, Delhi, & Hyderabad Counties given how bad the invasion of un-assimilated & un-assimilable Indians has become.Globalist corporations move to Texas to exploit our favorable economic climate. Having contempt for… — Aaron Reitz (@aaron_reitz) January 19, 2026
He also threatened legal action against companies that employ foreign workers through such visas.
“At the same time, I’ll go after the gutless, treasonous corporations who have no loyalty to our state and who treat our country like a mere economic zone. This is Texas, USA not India or Pakistan,” he wrote.
The original user later replied, “Great answer. You’ve earned my support.”
Indian-American groups push back strongly
Reitz’s comments quickly drew condemnation from Indian-American organisations and immigration experts, who accused him of singling out a specific community.
After screenshots of the post circulated widely, Sidharth, a member of the Indian American Advocacy Council, highlighted what he described as a glaring contradiction in Reitz’s campaign.
According to Sidharth, one of Reitz’s biggest donors is Anosh Ahmed, a Pakistani-origin doctor who has been indicted in a Covid-testing fraud case.
“Official Texas campaign finance filings (via Transparency USA) show Reitz accepted ~$100,000 from Anosh Ahmed one of his TOP DONORS. Who is Anosh Ahmed? A Pakistani-American doctor FEDERALLY INDICTED by the U.S. DOJ for massive healthcare and COVID-testing fraud,” Sidharth wrote on X.
“If anyone is dragging Texas toward Lahore or Islamabad, it’s Reitz himself cashing six-figure checks from an accused foreign fraudster while preaching law & order,” he added.
🚨🚨 REITZ’S BIG LIE EXPOSED 🚨🚨@aaron_reitz pretends he doesn’t want to turn Texas into New Delhi or Hyderabad but in reality, he’s bringing Sharia law and Islamist backing, turning it into LAHORE and KARACHI. 🚨🚨 Aaron Reitz attacks “unassimilated Indians” and sneers… pic.twitter.com/hdikl1fcCL — Sidharth (@Cloudwatch199) January 21, 2026
The reference drew attention to a Community Note attached to Reitz’s post, amplifying scrutiny of his donor base.
Experts warn against vilifying skilled immigrants
A spokesperson for a statewide technology association criticised Reitz’s remarks, emphasising the role of immigrants in Texas’s economic rise.
“Texas’s economic success has been built on attracting talent from around the world. Vilifying companies and workers alike sends the wrong signal,” the spokesperson said.
Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown also warned that such language could inflame ethnic divisions.
“This kind of language dehumanises people who live, work and contribute to Texas every day,” Brown said.
Writing on X, he added, “Indian nationals account for less than 2% of the Texas population. Yet here you have an AG candidate with dog-whistle rhetoric about an invasion of unassimilated and unassimilable Indians.”
Indian nationals account for less than 2% of the Texas population. Yet here you have an AG candidate (and not surprisingly a previous employee of the current DOJ) with dog whistle rhetoric about an "invasion of un-assimilated & un-assimiliable Indians." https://t.co/ha5kcSOpvQ— Steven Brown (@AttyStevenBrown) January 20, 2026
According to US Census data, Texas is home to one of the fastest-growing Indian-American populations in the country, with major concentrations in the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas. Indian-Americans are widely recognised for their contributions to technology, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and education across the state.
Who is Aaron Reitz
According to his official biography, Aaron Reitz is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas School of Law. He served five years in the US Marine Corps, including a deployment to Afghanistan.
After law school, Reitz practised law in Houston, clerked for Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock, and served as Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy under Ken Paxton.
He later became Chief of Staff to Ted Cruz, where he oversaw policy initiatives related to border security, child protection, and job creation. Following Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election, Reitz was appointed to lead the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy under Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Reitz describes himself as a husband, a father of four, a churchgoer, and a Marine Corps Reserve major.
A broader debate beyond one candidate
The backlash against Reitz underscores a broader debate in US politics about immigration, economic growth, and social cohesion. For many critics, the episode highlights how inflammatory rhetoric can overshadow facts, particularly at a time when Indian-Americans continue to play a vital role in Texas’s economy and civic life.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
