An Indian-American federal judge has ignited a firestorm of online vitriol from supporters of former President Donald Trump after he temporarily blocked a major administration move to withhold billions in federal funds. This incident highlights a disturbing trend where judges of Indian origin in the United States are facing intense, often xenophobic, backlash for rulings that impede Trump-era policies.
Judge Subramanian's Ruling Halts Child Care Fund Freeze
Federal Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Friday, putting an immediate stop to the Trump administration's decision to freeze nearly $10 billion in federal funding. This money was designated for child care and social services in five states led by Democratic governments: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The legal challenge was brought by the attorneys general of these states. They argued that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had no legal authority to suspend the funds and was overstepping by interfering with Congress's constitutional power over federal spending. The administration had justified the funding pause earlier in the week, citing alleged large-scale fraud, particularly in Minnesota's child care subsidy programs involving Somali immigrant communities.
Standard Legal Reasoning Sparks Furious Online Backlash
In his order, Judge Subramanian stated the states had shown "good cause" for emergency relief. He pointed to the likelihood of their legal success, the risk of irreparable harm to vulnerable families who depend on the aid, and the broader public interest in maintaining the flow of critical support. The ruling, which imposed a 14-day pause on the freeze to allow for more complete legal arguments, did not address the fraud allegations themselves. Legal experts noted this reasoning is standard for TROs, which aim to prevent immediate harm.
However, the decision was enough to trigger a fierce reaction online. On platforms like X, critics labeled Subramanian a "Biden appointee" and a "DEI hire", insinuating his selection was based on diversity rather than merit. The attacks rapidly descended into overt xenophobia, with some posts falsely calling him an "anchor baby" and demanding his deportation to India, despite his U.S. citizenship. Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller claimed the ruling forced Americans to "fund infinite refugee daycare scams."
A Pattern of Attacks on Indian-American Jurists
Judge Subramanian is not an isolated case. He joins at least three other Indian-American judges who have been targeted by MAGA circles in recent months for rulings perceived as anti-Trump.
Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., faced sustained attacks after ruling last year that Trump's "Stop the Steal" speech before the January 6 Capitol riot could be seen as a "call to action" in a civil conspiracy, potentially removing its First Amendment protection.
Judge Vince Chhabria of the Northern District of California also became a target after blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data for deportation raids.
Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts has been a frequent focus of criticism. Just on Friday, she announced she would issue a TRO to block the administration's plan to terminate family reunification parole programs affecting thousands of migrants from Latin American and Caribbean nations. She has previously clashed with the administration over migrant parole programs and rulings related to welfare benefits.
Together, these episodes underscore how judicial checks on executive power during the Trump era have increasingly collided with identity-based vitriol, placing Indian-American judges at the heart of a highly charged political and cultural conflict.
