A city council meeting in Frisco turned tense after the city’s changing demographics — particularly the growing Indian-American population — became the central and most divisive issue of discussion.
The meeting came at a sensitive moment, just days after Greg Abbott announced a freeze on H-1B hiring in Texas state agencies and universities, and the state’s attorney general launched probes into three firms employing H-1B workers. Against this backdrop, several MAGA-aligned social media influencers urged residents to attend the council meeting and speak against what they described as an “Indian takeover” of neighbourhoods.
## Outsiders, online mobilisation and charged rhetoric
Reports suggested that several speakers at the meeting were not residents of Frisco. Nevertheless, they raised concerns about demographic change, claiming they could no longer “recognise” their neighbourhoods. Following the meeting, local community forums and social media pages were flooded with heated posts, with Indian residents increasingly feeling targeted.
Some Frisco leaders condemned the rhetoric directed at the Indian-American community, though a few later deleted their messages amid backlash and pressure.
## Mayoral hopeful issues strong defence
Among the strongest responses came from John Keating, who is running for mayor. In a detailed statement, Keating unequivocally rejected the targeting of Indian residents.
“Targeting members of our Indian community, or any community, is wrong, and it has no place in Frisco,” he wrote. “Many of the individuals making these remarks were not residents; they came to divide, not to unite. To our Indian community, you are home in Frisco. You belong here. Your presence, your contributions, and your culture make our city stronger.”
Keating, a veteran, added that he found the comments made during the meeting “deeply hurtful and completely unacceptable,” emphasising the importance of defending the dignity of every resident.
## Backlash continues online
Keating’s statement itself drew hostile reactions online. One commenter, Marc Palasciano — who also spoke at the council meeting — questioned the proportion of Indian residents in Frisco and accused city leaders of supporting corporate interests. He wrote that although he was not a resident, he felt entitled to speak because of his past work in the city.
The episode has underscored rising tensions around immigration, identity and political mobilisation in suburban Texas, with Frisco emerging as a flashpoint in a broader national debate.
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