Archive · 20 Aug 2026
US Hate Crimes Fall as Anti-Hindu, Anti-Sikh Incidents Rise
The article says hate crimes overall went down in the United States, but attacks aimed at Hindus and Sikhs went up.
FBI figures cited in the report show anti-Sikh incidents increasing more sharply than anti-Hindu incidents.
Some temples were vandalized, and an ISKCON temple in Utah was damaged by gunfire.
People have also faced insults and hateful messages online.
Some far-right activists blame Indian immigrants for taking jobs through the H-1B visa program.
Others say Hindu communities are not blending into American society, pointing to temples and cultural differences.
Hindu and Sikh community members and supporters say these explanations can fuel unfair stereotypes.
The article also says the recorded numbers may not show every incident because some hate may go unreported.
FBI data cited in the article shows US hate-crime incidents fell from 11,679 in 2024 to 10,881 in 2025.
Anti-Sikh incidents rose from 142 to 177, while anti-Hindu incidents increased from 25 to 28.
The article describes vandalism, gunfire, online abuse and public protests targeting Hindu and Sikh communities.
Experts and community figures cite H-1B job concerns, anti-Indian rhetoric and claims that Hindus do not assimilate.
The article says official figures may understate the extent of anti-Hindu and anti-Sikh hatred.
- Who
- Hindu and Sikh communities in the United States, along with other Indian Americans, were described as targets; the FBI compiled the cited statistics.
- What
- The article examines rising anti-Hindu and anti-Sikh hate incidents despite an overall decline in US hate crimes.
- When
- The cited comparison covers 2024 and 2025; the article also describes incidents and statements reported during 2025 and 2026.
- Where
- The reported incidents occurred across the United States, including Texas, Indiana, California, Utah and Florida.
- Why
- The article cites alleged disputes over H-1B jobs, anti-Indian and far-right rhetoric, assimilation concerns and possible underreporting of hate crimes.
Claims and concerns cited
Counterpoints and context
H-1B visas and jobs
Claims and concerns cited
MAGA activists and some far-right leaders and Republican senators argue that Indians use the H-1B program to take jobs from Americans.
Counterpoints and context
The article presents this as a source of anti-Indian hostility and says it contributes to broader targeting of Hindu and Sikh communities, rather than establishing that Indians are unlawfully taking jobs.
Assimilation and cultural change
Claims and concerns cited
Some conservatives cited in the article complain that Indian residents do not assimilate, build temples, engage insufficiently in civic life or maintain insular business practices.
Counterpoints and context
The article says these criticisms can become anti-Hindu stereotypes and argues that Hindu traditions and practices, including yoga, meditation, arts and music, have contributed to American society.
Official data and the scale of hate
Claims and concerns cited
The FBI figures show fewer hate crimes overall, which could suggest that the broader trend is improving.
Counterpoints and context
The article argues that rising anti-Hindu and anti-Sikh figures, reported temple attacks and online abuse may indicate a larger problem, while noting that official counts may not capture every incident.
- Overall hate-crime incidents
- The cited FBI data shows a decline from 11,679 in 2024 to 10,881 in 2025.
- Overall hate-crime victims
- The number fell from 14,243 in 2024 to 13,438 in 2025.
- Anti-Sikh incidents
- The cited number increased from 142 in 2024 to 177 in 2025, a reported 24.6% rise.
- Anti-Hindu incidents
- The cited number increased from 25 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, a reported 12% rise.
- Anti-Buddhist incidents
- The cited number increased from 26 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, a reported 7.7% rise.
- Reported temple shooting
- Temple authorities said 20 to 30 bullets were fired at an ISKCON temple in Utah in June 2025 while worshippers and guests were inside.
- Indian-American slurs
- A Carnegie Endowment survey cited by the article said one in four Indian Americans had been called a slur since the start of 2025.