The co-chairs of the House India Caucus have formally asked the US Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the foiled mass-shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, as a potential federal hate crime. The bipartisan letter, sent on Friday, 17 October 2026, was signed by Republican Rich McCormick of Georgia and Democrat Ro Khanna of California, who urged Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to pursue the case under 18 U.S.C. Sections 247 and 249 — statutes that specifically cover religiously motivated violence and hate crimes.

What the Lawmakers Are Demanding

The letter asks federal authorities to determine whether anyone 'encouraged, assisted, or coordinated with the defendant' — raising the possibility of a broader network behind the alleged plot. The lawmakers also called on the DOJ and FBI to share threat intelligence with temples and gurdwaras across the country, and to brief the Caucus on their findings. So far, only state charges have been filed; the next court date is set for 30 October. The FBI has confirmed it is reviewing the case.

Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, was taken into custody after local law enforcement received information about the potential mass shooting, according to the FBI's Chicago field office. According to court filings cited by the Chicago Tribune, Paporakis allegedly wrote in an eight-page manifesto: 'I decided to target something that would give me pleasure to destroy.' The Tribune further reported that he had recently signed a guardianship petition filed by a family friend, while his mother reportedly was not cooperating with police.

Bipartisan Congressional Outcry

The call for a federal probe has drawn rare bipartisan condemnation from across the US Congress. Khanna, himself a Hindu American, said the attempted attack was 'horrifying' and pledged to hold those responsible accountable. Democratic Representative James Walkinshaw of Virginia described it as 'a chilling reminder of the growing threat of hate and extremism,' and called for a full federal investigation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: 'Anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric is at an alarming level in America, and now we are seeing that hatred turn into violence.' Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth called the plot 'absolutely horrifying,' while Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey called for condemnation of anti-Indian hate. Republicans also responded — Illinois Republican Darin LaHood said the suspect 'must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' and Representative Bill Foster, whose district includes Aurora, said everyone deserves to worship in peace and safety.

CAPAC Statement and Trump Administration Criticism

A day earlier, on Thursday, the leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a separate statement blaming the Trump administration's rhetoric and appointments for fuelling anti-South Asian hate. Signed by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, First Vice Chair Mark Takano, Second Vice Chair Jill Tokuda, Whip Ami Bera, Representative Suhas Subramanyam, and Chair Emerita Judy Chu, the statement accused the administration of posting white supremacist messaging on official government accounts and amplifying the Great Replacement Theory — which the lawmakers described as 'a dangerous far-right ideology that has been referenced by extremists to justify mass shootings and acts of racial terror.'

CAPAC also alleged that 'the administration has weakened efforts to combat domestic terrorism by cutting FBI staff tasked with monitoring threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups.' Notably, the Aurora temple is where CAPAC Member Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and his family worship, adding a personal dimension to the lawmakers' reaction.

The Hate Crime Data Behind the Push

Both the House India Caucus letter and the CAPAC statement cited a roughly 240 percent rise in anti-South Asian hate posts on X between January 2024 and June 2026. The figure originates from a September 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate. The alleged perpetrator reportedly described Indian, Jewish, and African American people as 'subhumans' and reportedly wrote a South Asian slur on a gas canister, according to CAPAC's statement. Israel's Consul General in Chicago, Elad Strohmayer, also condemned the plot and expressed solidarity with the Hindu community in Illinois.

With the FBI review ongoing and the next court date on 30 October, pressure is mounting on federal authorities to elevate the case beyond state-level charges — and to signal, with concrete enforcement action, that houses of worship across the United States will be protected.