Arizona Democrat Amish Shah, the congressman-elect for the state's 1st Congressional District, urged elected leaders to respond to anti-Indian hostility, while linking tariff disputes to strain in U.S.-India relations.
Hindustan Times reported the remarks in an interview published Nov. 12. “Anti-Indian hate has risen, probably more in the last six months to a year than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime,” Shah told the newspaper. He said some community members feel isolated and want officials to speak publicly, and urged consideration of security measures permitted by law.
The Associated Press called the race for Shah on Nov. 5. Maricopa County's posted results list Shah with 185,799 votes, or 52.36%, and Republican Thomas “Jay” Feely IV with 161,092 votes, or 45.40%. The county marks the results unofficial. Its canvass deadline is Nov. 19, with Arizona's statewide canvass scheduled for Nov. 23.
The FBI's full 2025 release counted 10,881 reported hate-crime incidents. A comparable-agency series recorded 10,606 incidents, down 7% from 11,404 in 2024. The FBI lists anti-Asian and anti-Hindu bias, along with a separate “Anti-American Indian or Alaska Native” category; it has no distinct category for bias against people of Indian ancestry. The records count reported criminal offenses through 2025, while Shah described an experience extending into 2026. EconoTimes previously reported on an alleged Illinois temple plot.
Shah told Hindustan Times that Indian American entrepreneurs had complained to him about tariffs imposed on and off. He described the duties as one source of friction between the United States and India, and urged lawmakers to take back control of tariff policy. He said his district's immediate priorities include costs, tariffs, Medicaid cuts and Arizona water, and that he plans to join the India Caucus.
House Clerk guidance says a new Congress is scheduled to begin Jan. 3 in odd-numbered years.
