Former US ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands has ignited a major controversy by asserting that Americans are superior to Indians, citing their adherence to the Ten Commandments and lower propensity for fraud. Speaking on Steve Bannon's show, Sands claimed that Indians earn roughly twice the per capita income of Americans, attributing this to America's high-trust society and Judeo-Christian heritage. 'We don't have fraud in America, typically. People follow the Ten Commandments and do unto others as we have them do unto us,' she stated.
Sands alleged that foreign cultures bring corruption, accusing Indian visa holders of paying bribes for jobs, using fake diplomas, and citing a ring that sold hundreds of thousands of fake degrees, mostly in STEM. She also claimed India issues medical degrees to students who never studied medicine.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from immigration policy expert Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He condemned Sands' blanket statement, arguing that Indian immigrants succeed due to education, hard work, and lawfulness—conservative values. 'It's shameful for someone to say Indians succeed through fraud. This lame excuse is no better than the far left saying whites oppress blacks,' he posted.
Martino emphasized that fraud is unsustainable, noting that Silicon Valley and hospitals are not run by frauds. He highlighted that Indians face discrimination from leftist DEI regimes and rejected the claim that Indians are exceptionally fraudulent or earn more due to fraud. 'They earn more for the same reason whites earn more than blacks on average,' he added.
The controversy underscores ongoing debates about immigration, cultural values, and economic success in the US.
