Texas MAGA Leader Carlos Turcios Calls Hanuman Statue '3rd World Aliens' Amid Row

A political row has erupted in the United States after a Texas-based MAGA (Make America Great Again) activist drew widespread condemnation for describing a large statue of the Hindu deity Hanuman as evidence of “third World aliens” taking over America — remarks critics called xenophobic and misinformed.

The controversy centres on the 90-foot Panchaloha Abhaya Hanuman statue at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, a Houston-area suburb. The statue — one of the tallest Hindu monuments in North America — was unveiled in August 2024 and stands on privately owned temple grounds, where it serves as a focal point for worship and cultural gatherings.

Carlos Turcios, a Republican activist from the Dallas–Fort Worth area associated with conservative and MAGA-aligned circles, shared a video of the statue on social media platform X, asserting: “Third World Aliens are slowly taking over Texas and America” and questioning why a statue of this size should exist in the United States rather than cities like Islamabad or New Delhi.

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Turcios’s remarks quickly triggered a backlash online. Critics, including Indian-American commentators and broader social media users, accused him of promoting xenophobia and misunderstanding both American values and demographic realities. Some pointed out that immigrants and faith communities have long contributed to the cultural fabric of the United States, and emphasised that religious freedom — protected under the US Constitution — allows diverse places of worship and monuments on private property.

Indian-American voices on X and other platforms noted that the temple and its statue were financed and developed by devotees as a symbol of spiritual devotion and community, not as a political statement or “invasion.” They challenged Turcios’s assertions, highlighting that Indian-American assimilation indicators — such as language use and civic participation — reflect long-standing integration rather than encroachment.

The debate has reignited broader conversations about immigration, religious tolerance, and cultural pluralism in the United States, especially in politically charged climates where demographic shifts often become the subject of heated rhetoric. Supporters of Turcios’s comments defended his right to free speech, while opponents said his language risked fomenting division and misunderstanding in an increasingly diverse society.

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