Nikki Haley’s Son Faces Backlash After Supporting Trump’s Immigration Ban: Journalist Reminds Him “Your Grandfather Came from India Too”

Published on: 25 Oct 2025 at 12:15 PM

Published by: Gill Bikram

Nikki Haley’s Son Faces Backlash After Supporting Trump’s Immigration Ban: Journalist Reminds Him “Your Grandfather Came from India Too”

Washington, October 25, 2025:
A major online debate erupted in the United States after Nalin Haley, son of Republican leader and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, voiced strong support for Donald Trump’s proposed immigration restrictions. The controversy deepened when British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan reminded him that his own grandfather had once migrated from India to America.

Nalin Haley backs strict immigration policy

In a recent social media post, Nalin Haley argued that the U.S. should temporarily halt immigration, claiming the country already has “too many people” and that AI-driven job cuts are making the employment market more competitive.

“I don’t care where you’re from — even if you’re Canadian — we don’t need more immigration,” he wrote. “Companies are already not hiring enough, and foreign workers are taking American jobs.”

He further added that H-1B visas should be stopped and urged the Trump administration to enforce tougher foreign employment laws.

Journalist reminds him of his Indian roots

Responding sharply, journalist Mehdi Hasan pointed out that Nalin’s grandfather, Ajit Singh Randhawa, had also migrated from India decades ago.

“Your grandfather came to America from Punjab, India, in 1969,” Hasan wrote.

Hasan, who himself has Indian heritage (his parents moved from Hyderabad to the UK), also shared details of Randhawa’s life: he earned a Master’s degree in Biology, completed a PhD from the University of British Columbia, and moved to South Carolina in 1969, where he began teaching.

Backlash on social media

Nalin’s remarks drew intense criticism online. Many users accused him of hypocrisy and ignorance of his own immigrant roots. One user commented,

“You’re standing with people who would have targeted your grandfather. They’ll never accept you.”

Another wrote,

“If this policy had existed back then, your family wouldn’t even be here, kid.”

Defending himself, Nalin replied to Hasan saying,

“This isn’t 1969. People today only complain about America.”

Despite his defense, criticism continued to mount across platforms.

Background

Nalin Haley, the younger son of Governor Nikki Haley and Michael Haley, graduated in Political Science in 2024. His comments come amid growing debate over the U.S. government’s immigration enforcement, which has seen over 1,500 Indian nationals deported since July 2025.