Kamal Ghorui
A Texas Republican running for attorney general has come under intense online scrutiny after a social media post warning that Texas counties could turn into “Delhi, Calcutta and Hyderabad” while attacking Indian immigration and H-1B visas sparked backlash. The post drew further attention after a Community Note pointed out that one of the candidate’s biggest donors is a Pakistani-origin doctor who has been indicted in a major fraud case.The controversy centres on Aaron Reitz, a GOP candidate for Texas Attorney General, after a screenshot of his remarks circulated widely on X. Reitz’s post drew angry reactions and accusations of targeting a specific community.According to the Community Note referenced in replies, Reitz’s donor list includes contributions linked to Anosh Ahmed, a Pakistani-American doctor who has been indicted in a Covid-era healthcare fraud case and is reported to have left the US and is currently living in Dubai.
The note added fuel to the backlash, with users arguing that Reitz’s anti-immigration messaging was undermined by questions surrounding his campaign funding.Reitz has previously faced scrutiny over donations, including reports that he accepted nearly $100,000 from a Houston doctor accused by federal authorities of involvement in a medical fraud scheme worth nearly $300 million. Some users also circulated posts citing campaign finance records, claiming the donor was among Reitz’s top contributors.The episode has revived debate in Texas over immigration policy, legal work visas, and the role of highly skilled workers in the state’s economy, particularly in fast-growing tech hubs such as Austin and Dallas.Community Notes became a major embarrassment for the candidate, exposing what critics described as hypocrisy behind his post. Instead of a serious policy argument, Reitz’s remarks were widely seen as inflammatory identity politics, and the focus quickly shifted from his attacks on Indians to questions about why a fraud-linked Pakistani donor was among his biggest backers.
