The Department of Homeland Security has backtracked after posting a targeted threat on X daring illegal immigrant truck drivers to “find out.”
The post mimicking a Transformers movie poster was posted by the DHS on Wednesday, September 9th, but has since been taken down. The post was met with both criticism and support from the public and various organizations.
“Transformers. America for Americans,” the poster reads. “Self-deport or find out.”
At the bottom of the poster, the line “Get off our roads. You don’t know how to drive, Mr. Singh.”
“This is disgusting. Trump’s government is trafficking in racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community,” wrote the Press Office of Governor Newsom.
Hey Gavin, YOU gave him his CDL and then he killed three people with his tractor-trailer. https://t.co/5qoXLLCMt7 pic.twitter.com/zqWfOZG1Hk
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 10, 2026
The following day, the DHS doubled down by sharing a post depicting Harjinder Singh, the driver involved in the now-infamous fatal Florida illegal u-turn crash, with the caption “Hey Gavin, YOU gave him his CDL and then he killed three people with his tractor-trailer.”
The original post has since been removed by the DHS.
The Hindu American Foundation has condemned the post, calling for an investigation into the “discriminatory post by a federal agency that is far beyond political messaging,” and tagging FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Singhs” are Hindu, they are Sikhs, they are American and they drive.
Racist, un-American, anti-Indian profiling/trolling by @DHSgov should shock our nation’s collective conscience.
Maybe we’re becoming too used to this hate, but are @Hasbro @takaratomytoys @ParamountPics ok… https://t.co/jk0F0ahrMD
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 10, 2026
Hasbro, which owns the Transformers brand, has also spoken out against the use of Transformers and Optimus Prime.
“Optimus Prime is a beloved character who represents humility, leadership, compassion and justice. Hasbro is aware of the recent posts using his likeness. These posts were done without permission and do not represent the Transformers brand or Hasbro,” it wrote in a statement to CBS.
“That person who follows Sikh religion has the same middle name, Singh. So you’re calling a whole Sikh community that,” said Raman Dhillon, head of the North American Punjabi Trucking Association.
Comments on the social media post and related responses showed mixed opinions from the public, ranging from outraged and disgusted to wholeheartedly in support of the targeted messaging.
On the same day, September 9th, the DHS included a ‘most wanted’ type list of illegal immigrant CDL holders already arrested in connection to “devastating” wrecks on a press release outlining their new CDL fraud tipline.
“Some examples of illegal aliens who had been granted CDLs, with devastating impacts for American citizens, include [the drivers listed below,]” the release reads.
