NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Dallas, TX, September 8, 2025: A Dallas-area resident’s social media post has ignited a heated online debate after he shared a video of Indian Americans celebrating with music and dance in his neighborhood, calling for an end to the H-1B visa program.
The man, identified as Daniel Keene, filmed the gathering from inside his car and posted it online with the caption: “Typical view in my neighborhood outside Dallas. We have to cancel the H1-Bs. I want my kids to grow up in America. Not India.”
Keene’s video, which has since drawn more than five million views, showed residents playing drums and dancing in the street. In follow-up comments, he complained that his neighborhood was now “70 percent Indian” and compared evening walks in the area to “walking the streets of Mumbai.”
The remarks struck a nerve online. Critics condemned the post as xenophobic, pointing out that Indian Americans contribute significantly to the local economy and community life. “If you speak to them, you’ll likely experience hospitality and learn about the event instead of assuming the worst,” one user responded.
Supporters, however, backed Keene’s frustrations, arguing that rapid demographic changes in Dallas suburbs have altered the cultural fabric of their neighborhoods.
The controversy has also reignited debate over the H-1B visa program, which has long been a pathway for Indian professionals in the United States. While many credit H-1B holders with filling critical roles in technology and healthcare, others claim the program disadvantages American workers.
Indian communities have grown rapidly in suburban Texas, where cultural celebrations, festivals, and religious events are a regular feature of neighborhood life. For some, this diversity symbolizes the strength of America’s immigrant tradition. For others, as Keene’s video revealed, it represents a shift they struggle to accept.
