Washington, Sept. 11 -- The US Department of Homeland Security on Thursday (local time) removed an X post featuring a Transformers-themed cartoon confronting an Indian Sikh man with the phrase "Get off our roads, you don't know how to drive Mr. Singh" following fierce condemnation.

The deleted post portrayed a facial-haired man wearing a bandana opposite the Transformers character Optimus Prime adorned with the DHS seal on his armour. The poster also read, "Self deport or find out."

According to The New York Times, the image drew immediate backlash from Indian American organisations and Democratic lawmakers, who condemned it as racially discriminatory toward Sikh Americans and harmful to millions sharing the common surname.

Addressing ...